May 23, 2011 - Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Antigua and Barbuda the Hon. W. Baldwin Spencer, announced on Thursday 19th May that his government has secured additional scholarships, which will enable Antiguan and Barbudan students to pursue degree studies in friendly nations.

According to Prime Minister Spencer, the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has agreed to grant twenty full degree scholarships to students to pursue undergraduate studies in Community and Integral Medicine, Sports Management Technology, International Business Administration, Tourism, Water Transport and Agriculture.

“The Government of President Hugo Chavez has once again demonstrated that they are committed to building the excellent relations that exist between both of our countries and it also demonstrates that we share the desire to ensure that the greatest good is provided for our people.  One way of demonstrating this is to empower citizens through education in order to ensure that our nation remains on a sustainable path,” said Prime Minister Spencer.

The country’s leader who has championed an “Education through Diplomacy” programme designed to secure tertiary level education for Antiguans and Barbudans from friendly nations around the world, said that so far for in 2011, sixty scholarships have become available to young Antiguans and Barbudans.  

Twenty students have been selected to pursue studies in the People’s Republic of China and an additional twenty will commence studies at Midwestern State University in Texas this coming August.

Chairperson of the Prime Minister’s Scholarship Committee Maurice Merchant said that the new scholarships secured by Prime Minister Spencer from the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, will contribute greatly towards the nation being able to provide the tertiary level education required by our nation’s young people.  

He said that the scholarships place every family on the same level despite their economic circumstance, giving qualified students the opportunity to attend university which would not have been possible under normal circumstances.

“The average cost of a university degree ranges from US $25 to $35 thousand dollars per semester and this demonstrates the significant contribution being made by our friends the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.  Once again our association with ALBA and its affiliate the Fundayacucho Programme has generated tremendous benefits for Antigua and Barbuda,” Merchant said.

He also pointed out that in a few weeks time the Cuban and Moroccan Scholarships will open providing another 30 scholarship opportunities for young Antiguans and Barbudans.

The Prime Minister’s Scholarship Committee was established by Prime Minister Spencer in 2007 for the country’s Silver Jubilee of Independence, and is designed to provide tertiary level scholarships to students in a number of friendly countries including the People’s Republic of China, Malaysia, the Republic of Cuba, Russian Federation, Kingdom of Morocco, Italy, Greece, Grambling State University in Texas and NYU/Polytechnic Institute in New York.

This year the first group of scholarship students in the programme will graduate from NYU Polytechnic Institute and Grambling State University: Maurica Lewis will graduate with a degree in Chemical and Biological Engineering; Kurt Williams and Tammie Constant, Business and Technology Management; Jamel Pelle, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering; Adrian Gordon, Bio-Molecular Science; Orrin Phillip, Computer Engineering; and Corine Philip, Management.

The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Scholarship application process opened on May 17 and will close on June 1.  Application forms are available from the Office of the Prime Minister on Queen Elizabeth Highway.

Source: http://ab.gov.ag/gov_v4/article_details.php?id=1530&category=38