Born in Chapelton, Clarendon to Carmen, a post mistress and Osmond, a forest officer at the Ministry of Agriculture, he and younger brother Alistair benefitted from a rural upbringing which drilled in them good manners, discipline, work ethic and respect for education. These values were reinforced at Knox College in Clarendon, where Courtney was a boarder and, as prefect and Student Council member part of the school’s student leadership. His people skills blossomed at the UWI, Mona, where he was engaged in a wide range of student activities while pursuing a degree in Management Studies which he earned in 1984. “My time at UWI was an important period in my formation,” said the former Chancellor Hall resident. “The fellowship was powerful. This was a huge intangible. I benefitted from the interaction with fellow students, which helped me to develop my interpersonal and leadership skills. Hall life helped me to manage diversity. I learned to appreciate the value of CARICOM and see the strengths in that diversity as I had friends from all across the region.” There was also his involvement in Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship (UCCF). His membership was not surprising for he had grown up in a Christian family and, in fact, had made a commitment to Christian service even before UWI. He recalls that decision was made on Christmas Day 1979 while still in high school. After a severe asthma attack and, encouraged by Rev. Bob Kerr, he had made the commitment. He remains big on service to people which he anchors in one of his favourite Bible passages, Micah 6:8 (MSG): “…Do what is fair and just to your neighbour,

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