The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda has nominated David Harrison to receive a knighthood, Antigua and Barbuda’s highest national honour.
The United Kingdom national is the founder of the Harrison Foundation, a privately funded, charitable organisation, which has provided £4 million in grant funding to the government of Antigua and Barbuda for construction of the Harrison Centre Antigua and Barbuda Institute of Continuing Education.
Speaking during Monday’s sod-turning ceremony at Tomlinsons, Prime Minister Gaston Browne said the final decision regarding his cabinet’s nomination rests with the National Honours Committee. He expressed confidence, however, that Harrison would be approved for the honour.
“I do not want to anticipate the decision of the committee, but I believe that it will be accepted and I want to suggest to Daniel that he communicate this information to his father and perhaps he may wish to grace us with his presence on November 1st. The governor general will make the formal announcement on November 1st,” PM Browne said.
According to the prime minister, Harrison, an entrepreneur and philanthropist, is deserving of the honour and should be recognised for his contributions to Antigua and Barbuda.
“This is done in gratitude by the government and people of Antigua and Barbuda to a most deserving partner who has been with us for over two decades, has assisted us and has now stepped up and would have made a most significant contribution.
“I believe it is perhaps the single largest private sector contribution from anyone and we are very grateful and certainly would have agreed to extend the honour of knighthood for not only this contribution, but the contributions that he would have made during the last couple of decades towards the socio-economic advancement of Antigua and Barbuda,” PM Browne said.
