Vice Chancellor of the UWI, Prof. the Hon. Rex Nettleford was on Monday, July 12, honoured by the Government of Chile at a special ceremony at the Chilean Embassy in Kingston. Professor Nettleford received the Commemorative Medal of the Centenary of the Birth of Pablo Neruda, Chile’s Nobel Laureate in Literature. July 12 marked the exact date of his birth. The award was devised by Chilean President, Ricardo Lagos to be presented to a selected and limited number of outstanding persons who have achieved international recognition in their respective fields. Prof. Nettleford is the awardee for the English speaking Caribbean. Chilean Ambassador to Jamaica, Alphonso Silva in his remarks drew parallels between Neruda and Professor Nettleford commenting that the Vice Chancellor’s humanitarianism was comparable to Neruda’s. He lauded Prof. Nettleford for his creation of the National Dance Theatre Company, his work as consultant to UNESCO and for his social and political activism. Professor Nettleford in his response said he was humbled by the award as there are many Caribbean men and women of letters who would have been more deserving. He also felt honoured because he regarded Pablo Neruda as one of the world’s most outstanding poets. Pablo Neruda was born in Chile in 1904 and began writing poetry at 13. He received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1971 and died in 1973. For more on the award go to