By Samantha Simon
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His Excellency Dr Walton Alfonso “Aubrey” Webson was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by the University of the West Indies Five Island Campus(UWIFIC) during its 2024 graduation ceremony.
The honour recognises Dr Webson’s significant contributions to diplomacy, advocacy for persons with disabilities, and his embodiment of Caribbean resilience and achievement.
His Excellency Dr Webson, who is blind, is the first visually impaired person to serve as a UN Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
Born in English Harbour, Antigua, Dr Webson lost his sight at a young age due to a rare childhood cancer.
Despite this challenge, he pursued education vigorously, attending school in Trinidad and Tobago from the age of five.
Throughout his career, Dr Webson has been a strong advocate for the rights of visually impaired individuals and those with other disabilities.
He has held leadership positions in various organizations, including serving as the first blind and black chief executive at Perkins International and the Perkins School for the Blind.
At the UN, Dr Webson has promoted green energy, social services for children and people with disabilities, and has played a crucial role in developing the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI), which is vital for the sustainable development of Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
In his acceptance speech, Dr Webson reflected on his journey and the importance of resilience: “Life, graduates, is about family, love and community. Those three come together in our Caribbean daily, and build pillars of resistance and threads of the cords that form that tapestry of hope in the Caribbean.”
He emphasised the power of vision beyond physical sight, quoting Helen Keller: “The most pathetic person in the world is the one who can see or has sight, but does not have vision.”
Dr Webson encouraged the graduating class to draw inspiration from their Caribbean heritage and to stand up for social justice.
“We must stand for justice. We must stand with and for each other…. You, my dear graduates, are the leaders, are the change-makers of not tomorrow, but now. Whether you choose to pursue a career in science or in business or social justice or sports or arts, carry with you the strength of your heritage.”
The conferring of the honorary doctorate also held personal significance for Dr Webson, marking a full-circle moment in his academic journey.
In his acceptance speech, he revealed that he had initially begun studying law before switching to management.
With a touch of humour and gratitude, Dr Webson thanked the Chancellor and faculty for “bringing me back to law” through this honorary degree.
The honorary doctorate from UWIFIC acknowledges Dr Webson’s lifetime of achievement and his ongoing contributions to diplomacy and advocacy on the world stage.