Office of the Campus Registrar, Jamaica. Wednesday, October 11, 2018 – The University of the West Indies (The UWI) Open Campus at its upcoming Graduation Ceremony will confer Honorary Degrees of Doctor of Laws (LLD) on two Caribbean citizens – the Honourable Dame Janice Mesadis Pereira DBE from the British Virgin Islands, for her service to the legal profession and Mr Larry Quinlan from St. Kitts and Nevis for his influence and work in leadership at the global level. The bCeremony is scheduled to be held on Saturday, October 13, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. at the Royalton Saint Lucia Resort and Spa, Cap Estate, Gros Islet.
The illustrious Dame Janice is a renowned legal professional who has dedicated many years of service to the people of the British Virgin Islands (BVI), the Organisation of the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the wider region. In 2012, she was sworn in as the first female Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC).
Born in Virgin Gorda, BVI, she went on to obtain her Law degree at The UWI Cave Hill in 1979, her Legal Education Certificate from the Norman Manley Law School, in Jamaica and was called to the Bar in BVI in 1981. For the decades that followed she built a long and successful legal career, first as a Registrar and then as an associate and partner with well-respected legal firms.
In September 2003, she was appointed Judge of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court and was assigned to the territories of Anguilla and Montserrat. In 2009, Dame Janice was elevated to Justice of Appeal and one of the first females to be so appointed. On September 28, 2012, she was appointed to the Office of Chief Justice, the first female to do so since the Court’s creation in 1967.
Dame Janice is also a distinguished alumna of The University of the West Indies and has been recognised for her extraordinary qualities as a legal professional by Caribbean leaders. In 2013, she was awarded the title “Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire” by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. An incredibly active jurist, Dame Janice serves as Chair of the Judicial and Legal Services Commissions (JLSC) of both BVI and Anguilla, and is a member of the Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission of the Caribbean Court of Justice. She is also a member of the Cayman Islands JLSC. She is an Honorary Bencher of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, UK and a 1
Fellow of the Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute. She has received several awards for dedicated service and contributions to the administration of justice.
Larry Quinlan is a leader in business, technology, and community engagement. Born in St. Kitts, he is the Global Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Deloitte, one of the largest privately owned companies in the world, where he leads the technology organisations that serve over 260,000 people in more than 150 countries and territories. He oversees an annual technology investment programme of US$1.6 billion.
Mr. Quinlan is also deeply involved in community engagement. He has a long history of working with community organisations that address issues such as encouraging young people in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, leadership, technology, and diversity and inclusion.
He currently serves or has served on the boards of organisations, including the American Foundation for The University of the West Indies (AFUWI), the Miami Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP), the Global Leadership Forum Board, Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, the Executive Leadership Council, and many others.
As a proud alumnus of The UWI (Cave Hill and St. Augustine campuses), Mr. Quinlan has facilitated and has made considerable personal donations to the university. Every year, he funds two scholarships to The UWI Open Campus for students from St. Kitts and Nevis. In 2011, he gave the keynote address at The UWI St. Augustine Campus’ “Evening of Excellence.”
Mr. Quinlan has received numerous honours for his work in technology and community, including induction into CIO.com’s 2018 CIO Hall of Fame, a Caribbean American Heritage Award for Outstanding Contribution to Corporate America, and the AFUWI Vice-Chancellor’s Award.
