Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter

E. Nigel Harris (centre) and daughter Sandia Harris joke with Parris Lyew-Ayee.

Some of the University of the West Indies' brilliant minds came out for a cocktail reception hosted by Vice Chancellor E. Nigel Harris last Friday.

Standing on this lawn were some of the most revered and renowned names in academia in the Caribbean and the world. Among them, they had written numerous books, publications and papers which students are still mulling over. No doubt the conversation involved various topics of intellectual endeavour, plus a few wishes for the holiday season.

The evening was spent without any speeches, without the obvious statements of appreciation for everyone's attendance. The only sounds to be heard other than the human voice were soft music and the occasional rustle of leaves from the light evening breeze.

Guests included: Dr. Archie McDonald, Dr. Peter Figueroa and wife Marceline, Howard Hamilton and wife Dr. Marlene Hamilton, High Commissioner Cedric Harper and wife Barbara, Prof. Rex Nettleford, Lascelles Chin and wife Dr. Eileen Chin, Tony and Yvonne Ray, Dr. Trevor Munroe and wife Ingrid, Dr. Charles Denbow, Dr. Neville Ying, Dr. Christine Cummings, Prof. Ronald Young, Professor Fred Hickling, Dr. Deanna Ashley and mother Beryl Ashley-Steiner, Dr. Ramon Arscott, Dr. Audia Barnett, Carol Edwards, Thelora Reynolds, Prof. Barry Chevannes and wife Pauletta, Honorary Consul to Barbados Winston Bayley and Prof. Errol Morrison.

Prinicpal-designate of the University of the West Indies, Professor Gordon Shirley (left), and Hazel Williams listen with some mirth to Vice Chancellor E. Nigel Harris at Harris' cocktail reception. - photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

Left: A trio of young beauties. Daughters of UWI Vice Chancellor E. Nigel Harris, Sandia Harris (left) and Tamia (right) with friend Roshal Erskine at their father's cocktail reception, held at Long Mountain Road, Mona on Friday, December 29, 2006.

Right: UWI Vice Chancellor E. Nigel Harris (right) greets Professors Hugh and Sheila Wynter.