JOEL Simpson and Chuvika Harilall were presented with the prestigious Chevening scholarship awards by British High Commissioner to Guyana Andrew Ayre, at a reception hosted in their honour Tuesday evening.
Chuvika Harilal, who hails from Berbice, is a Senior Environmental Officer at the EPA. She has done extensive work on protected areas in Guyana, including the Kanuku Mountains and Shell Beach. She was also instrumental in the process leading up to the passage of the National Protected Areas Legislation, the Protected Areas Act 2011.
Chuvika heads for the University of Kent to study for a Master’s Degree in Conservation and Rural Development.
Joel Simpson, a human rights activist, will pursue studies in Human Rights Law at Nottingham. He is a member of the Society against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) and has worked tirelessly over the past three years, promoting the rights of Lesbian, Bi – sexual, Gay and Transgender (LBGT) persons in Guyana.
Attorney at Law Gino Persaud was the guest speaker. He advised the awardees to value the opportunity to study at a First World university and to enjoy the cultural diversity of England. He also urged them to be cognizant of their responsibility to return to Guyana and assist in confronting the challenges facing the country through their scholarships.
Mr. Persaud is also a Chevening Scholar of 2004 and President of Transparency Guyana International.
High Commissioner Ayre said more than 80 applications were received in areas of climate change and development, economics and human rights.
The scholarship is valued at 15,000 pounds and is provided by the British Government.
Other Chevening scholars include Finance Minister, Ashni Singh, former Auditor General, Anand Goolsarran, and Iana Seales, a former reporter with Stabroek News.