by Khaila Gentle
BELIZE CITY, Sun. Oct. 16, 2022
This past weekend, both famed musician Gerald “Lord” Rhaburn and former Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Said Musa were awarded honorary doctorates by the University of Belize. The university’s commencement exercise for the class of 2022, a total of 1,069 graduates, was held on Saturday at the Belize City Civic Center and was their first post-COVID graduation ceremony held in person.
Dr. Gerald “Lord” Rhaburn was recognized by the university for his “immeasurable contributions to cultural development and preservation” with an honorary Doctorate of Arts. Rhaburn, who rose to fame in the 70s, has long been dubbed the country’s King of Calypso. Now, at the age of 86, he remains a hallmark in the brukdown, calypso, soca, and reggae scenes.
The honorary Doctorate of Arts degree is the university’s highest recognition of cultural contribution to humanity. Rhaburn was adorned with the traditional gown and cap worn by PhD graduates across the world by the president of the University of Belize, Dr. Vincent Palacio, and the chairman of the university’s board of trustees, Anthony Sylvester, Jr.
The Rt. Hon. Dr. Said Musa, for his five decades of service to the nation, received an honorary Doctorate of Law. While he was unable to attend the ceremony in person due to his health, Hon. Musa was praised by the university’s faculty and staff nonetheless. Dr. Martin Cuellar, the Dean of Student Affairs at the University of Belize, referred to the former Prime Minister as a lifelong statesman and a “champion of Belize” who “continues to conjure images of a giant among men for his verve and courage.”
Musa is the nation’s first post-independence prime minister to serve two terms. He also made integral contributions to Belize’s push for self-governance and its acceptance into the United Nations. In addition to serving as the country’s prime minister, he also served as senator, Attorney General, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Education, and Minister of Economic Development. Prior to the graduation ceremony, Palacio visited the Rt. Hon Said Musa at his home to bestow upon him his academic garb.
“I am honored to have been granted this honorary doctorate in law by the University of Belize. I want to thank the university. Thank you, Dr. Vincent Palacio, the president. And I want to congratulate all the graduates. Today, you have graduated from a very distinguished institution,” said an emotional Musa.
On Saturday, Minister of Home Affairs and son of the former Prime Minister, Hon. Kareem Musa, received his honorary doctorate degree on his behalf.