Press Release 2008

Judge Marlene Malahoo Forte selected for prestigious Harvard Fellowship

The United States Embassy in Kingston is pleased to announce that Judge Marlene Malahoo Forte has been awarded an international Fellowship tenable at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government (HKS).

In announcing the award, the prestigious Ivy League University said Judge Malahoo Forte’s selection for the HKS International Fellowship was in recognition of her outstanding academic achievement and professional promise. As a recipient of the HKS International Fellowship, she will receive an award toward funding her studies in the Edward S. Mason Program in Public Policy Management for the 2008-2009 academic year.

The young Jamaican Judge came to the attention of Harvard as a result of her participation in the 2007 Yale University World Fellows Program after being nominated for the Yale program by the U.S. Embassy in Kingston. Yale selected Judge Malahoo Forte from an exceptionally qualified and competitive group of 500 young leaders from over 100 countries.

"Ambassador Johnson and all of us at the embassy were delighted to hear of Judge Malahoo Forte's selection for the prestigious Harvard University program.  We would like to take some credit for her selection by Harvard after her outstanding performance in the Yale World Fellows Program, but Judge Malahoo Forte is an outstanding young woman who earned the honor on the strength of her intellectual abilities,” said U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Officer Patricia Attkisson.  "Jamaicans should be very proud of the image she portrays to the world."

Reacting to her selection for the fellowship; Malahoo Forte said; "I am strongly committed to public service and being part of Jamaica's solution.  My aim is always to enhance my knowledge and further develop and broaden my analytical and leadership skills. The award is quite an honour. The Harvard Kennedy School of Government emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach to problem solving. Based on the issues I've been exposed to in the justice system I have developed a keen interest in the interplay between law, public policy and development. A big part of the country's problem has to do with the absence of proper policies or ill conceived ones. Many of our institutions are systemically weak and administratively unworkable. There's no better place for me to learn the specific skills I now seek, than at Harvard University, which combines academic rigour and real-world relevance.” She also thanked the U.S. Embassy for having nominated her for the Yale World Fellow Program last year.

Malahoo Forte is a judge at the Corporate Area Civil Courts in Kingston and lecturer of Criminal Practice and Procedure at the Norman Manley Law School, at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Jamaica.  She is a Commonwealth Scholar who holds a Masters of Law Degree, with merit, from the University of London, King’s College; a Bachelor of Laws Degree, with honors, from the University of the West Indies, Barbados and a Certificate of Legal Education from the Norman Manley Law School, Jamaica.  She is a former head girl of Manning’s [High] School, in Sav la Mar, Westmoreland.  Before taking up her judicial appointment in February