MIAMI – The Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has proposed conferring the title of Ambassador for Tourism for Jamaica to world famous Jamaican pilot, Captain Barrington Irving for his recent successful historic world mission.
At the World Flight Adventure Gala, in Captain Irving’s honor, on Saturday, September 22 at the Florida Memorial University, the Minister announced that this honor was in addition to the Jamaica National Honour, Order of Distinction (O.D.) Rand of Commander, to be conferred on Captain Irving next month at King’s House.
Praising the young aviator, Mr. Bartlett told the almost 400 well-wishers attending the Gala, that Mr. Irving had now joined the ranks of many other deserving Jamaicans who had accomplished notable areas of ingenuity in the areas of sports, entertainment and education among others.
Irving, a 23 year old senior majoring in aerospace at Florida Memorial University used his single engine plane called Inspiration, to do the historic mission around the world, making him the first black and the youngest aviator to achieve such a feat.
On June 23, Irving completed his mission which took him 97 days, more than 26,000 and across almost 27 countries, beginning in March.
In congratulating Captain Irving, Consul General Ricardo Allicock also spoke of him as a ‘symbol of human potential and possibility’ indicating that his bold mission had made Jamaica proud.
Dr. Karl Wright, President of Florida Memorial University and also a Jamaican national, spoke of Irving as the newest member of the first flight achievers, among the pioneers in the aviation industry worldwide.
Other speakers included several Government officials, civic leaders in the South Florida community, and representatives of the aviation and aerospace industry. A variety of cultural performances formed part of the evening’s entertainment.
Earlier this year, during Jamaica’s 45th Independence celebrations, Captain Irving and his family were guests of the Jamaican government for a four-day visit.
Born in Kingston, Irving was raised in Opa Locka, Miami, and has been using his successful mission to encourage other young people to resist the negative influences of the streets and work towards their dream.
Irving has also established the first aviation learning center – Experience Aviation Learning Center – located at the Opa-Locka Airport, to allow inner city youth an opportunity to pursue careers in aviation and aerospace through youth training programs using donated computers and flight simulator software from Microsoft.
