UTech to confer honorary degrees on Sean Paul, Zacca, Anderson

The University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech, Jamaica) will confer honorary degrees on distinguished Jamaicans Major General Antony Anderson, former Commissioner of Police of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF); Christopher Zacca, prominent Jamaican business leader; and internationally renowned musician and entertainer Sean Paul Henriques, at its 2024 graduation ceremony.

UTech, Jamaica will host graduation ceremonies on Friday, November 15, 2024, and Saturday, November 16, 2024, both beginning at 10 am at the Alfred Sangster Auditorium, Papine Campus.

Graduates of the Faculty of Engineering and Computing, the Joint Colleges of Medicine, Oral Health and Veterinary Sciences, the College of Health Sciences, and the Faculty of Law will be presented on Friday, November 15, while graduates of the College of Business and Management, the Faculty of Science and Sport, the Faculty of The Built Environment, and the Faculty of Education and Liberal Studies will receive academic awards on Saturday, November 16, 2024.

Major General Antony Anderson held a distinguished military career in the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) spanning 34 years. He is a leading security expert in the Anglophone Caribbean, having commanded both of Jamaica’s security forces and led a multi-national force in the region. In his most recent role, he served with distinction as Commissioner of Police of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) for six years, from March 2018 to March 2024.

An alumnus of the College of Arts, Science and Technology (CAST), now University of Technology, Jamaica, Major General Anderson holds a Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a Master's degree in Defence Administration from Cranfield University, United Kingdom.

 He was inducted into the International Hall of Fame of the US Army Command and General Staff College on October 10, 2017. For his stellar contribution to national development, Major General Antony Anderson will be conferred with the Doctor of Technology Honoris Causa (Hon. DTech) at the UTech, Jamaica Graduation Ceremony on Saturday, November 16, 2024.

Christopher Zacca is a prominent Jamaican business leader with a wealth of business and management experience in both the public and private sectors spanning over three decades. He is currently the President and CEO of Sagicor Group Jamaica, a position he has held since May 2017, and serves on the Boards of all Sagicor Group Jamaica companies in Jamaica, Cayman, and Costa Rica. Zacca is Chairman of the Board of the Sagicor Jamaica Foundation, a registered charity that plays a significant role in supporting health and education initiatives and sponsors the annual Sagicor Sigma Run for Charity.

He is a founding member of the public/private Economic Program Oversight Committee (EPOC), which provided oversight to the implementation of the GOJ/IMF 2013 Agreement that transformed Jamaica’s fiscal management, and a conceptualizer and member of the public/private Electricity Sector Enterprise Team (ESET).

Zacca holds an MBA from the University of Florida and a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Sean Paul Henriques, Grammy Award-winning international superstar, is renowned for his distinct voice, catchy rhythms, first-rate production, and superb performances. His musical career took off in 2002 with the success of his second studio album, Dutty Rock, which was driven by his Billboard Hot 100 hits "Gimmie the Light" and "Get Busy." Since rising to international fame in 2000, Sean Paul has continued to maintain his presence in the music industry, with recent hits including "Cheap Thrills," "Rockabye," "No Lie," and "Body."

Sean Paul attended the University of Technology, Jamaica, in pursuit of a degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management, but his passion for music ultimately led him to leave before completing his studies. Sean Paul’s talent and dedication to his craft have earned him several Grammy and Billboard Music Award nominations, as well as accolades including an American Music Award, MOBO Awards, Soul Train Awards, MTV Music Awards, ASCAP Rhythm and Soul Music Awards, a Source Award, and a BET Award. He is the only Jamaican artist to win an American Music Award (2006) for Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist.