Sir Hilary Beckles to receive Martin Luther King award

The University of the West Indies (UWI) vice-chancellor professor Sir Hilary Beckles and director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Dr Anthony Fauci will be awarded the Dr Martin Luther King Jr award.

In a media release UWI said Rev Al Sharpton, president and founder of the US National Action Network (NAN) will confer the awards at the annual breakfast event on Monday.

This year marks the 30th anniversary for the awards which honours people with a view to refocusing and sustaining the dream of King Jr.

NAN said, “Sir Hilary is recognised for his global advocacy, academic scholarship and intellectual leadership in support of social justice, institutional equity, and economic development for marginalised and oppressed ethnicities and nations.

Beckles, who is also the president of Universities Caribbean, chairman of the Caribbean Examinations Council, chairman of the Caricom Reparations Commission and advisor on sustainable development to former United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon, will receive the Peace and Freedom award.

Fauci, an American physician, will receive the Lifetime Community Service award.

Previous recipients included former US president Bill Clinton, founder of Motown Music Berry Gordy, and former US attorney general Eric Holder.

Event speakers have included US president-elect Joe Biden and former US attorney general Loretta Lynch.

The Dr Martin Luther King Jr Day ceremony and awards will be held in Washington, DC from 12 pm and will be streamed live on UWItv’s website www.uwitv.org, cable channels on Flow EVO and its Facebook page.