Late Educators Honoured At Montego Bay Community College

The Lorna Nembhard Auditorium and the Ivy Townsend Library at the Montego Bay Community College, in memory of late principals who had served the institution with distinction, were officially declared opened by Governor-General His Excellency the Most. Hon. Sir Howard Cooke on Wednesday (March 12).

Glowing tributes were heaped on the late stalwart educators who went beyond the call of duty to bring life long learning and continuing education to the people of St. James and its environs.

Addressing a large gathering of persons from across Western Jamaica, the Governor-General said that the people of Montego Bay were to be commended for their spirit of unity, which came into play years ago when attempts were made to close the institution.

“The people of Montego Bay have demonstrated before, and I know they will do it again; that when circumstances demand it, we are one people,” Sir Howard noted.

He pointed out that the spirit shown then was the “great spirit” that caused the institution to remain open today.

“I am truly proud of this institution and the great principals and tutors of the past, and the tremendous work they have all done for education in this region and in Jamaica . Let us continue to unite our efforts so that together we seek to establish a Jamaican community, second to none in the world,” Sir Howard stressed.

Minister of Education, Youth and Culture, Maxine Henry-Wilson, in giving the main address, said that the Montego Bay Community College was an institution of great repute, which had a decisive role to play in guaranteeing that more people acquire tertiary education.

“Jamaica, if it is to be adequately prepared for the future must aim towards having more that 30 per cent of the population complete tertiary education and become competitive in even middle range economic activities,” Mrs. Henry-Wilson noted.

She observed that the vision of the late Principal, Dr. Lorna Nembhard was to “create a multi-disciplinary tertiary level institution with emphasis on the application of knowledge in the areas of arts, science and technology, para-professional and when necessary professional courses”.

“Montego Bay Community College has to be a bastion of academic excellence, standard-setting and professional development; it has to be a catalyst for stimulating sustainable economic activity,” the Education Minister said.

She challenged students and lecturers to become more accountable and do their best in seeking to fulfill the mission of the institution, stressing that it could not be business as usual, rather the adoption of a new urgency by all concerned.