Dear Editor,
I read that Letitia Wright, the 29 years old, was honored with an Honorary Doctorate Causa by UG presumably for acting in movies. Is the university cheapening honourary doctorates? Does just being born in Guyana and becoming an actress qualify one for an honorary doctorate?
Ms. Wright was born in Guyana but went to school in UK. While a British citizen and pursuing schooling in England, and in her acting career, it will be useful to know what she did for Guyana. I am curious to know whether she was active in Guyanese organizations in UK. Was she involved in Guyanese inspired humanitarian activities overseas and in Guyana? Did she socialize with the diaspora? Did she contribute to charities in her former homeland? Did she offer help to potential actors in Guyana who may want to pursue a career in acting? Has she done any promotion for Guyana or anything from which the country reaped dividends? Does simply being actress for a few films qualify someone for an honorary doctorate?
There are several outstanding Guyanese and organizations, from the diaspora and home, who made immense contributions to the homeland – cultural, political, social, and otherwise. Also, the country produced outstanding writers and other distinguish achievers in the arts, sciences, and social sciences. A Guyanese from Leguan worked on producing the vaccine to combat Covid 19; millions of lives were saved. How about the people who feed and care for the poor, underprivileged, hungry, and homeless? Their contributions and that of others were never recognized. They were not honored by UG with a doctorate.
What is it about Letitia Wright that makes her so deserving of a recognition with an Honorary Doctorate? And why not others who made greater contributions in their chosen field?
Yours truly,
Gregory Massiah
