– British High Commissioner urges local Chevening scholars

THE United Kingdom’s (UK) Chevening Scholarship has over the years become one of the most attractive international scholarships for Guyanese. As the number of applicants continues to increase however, the British High Commissioner, Greg Quinn, is reminding the beneficiaries that it is important to return and build their country.

“Return and work here…The UK Government is not spending money for them to vanish off elsewhere,” said Quinn during his remarks at a farewell reception for 18 persons who were selected to be Chevening scholars this year.

The Chevening Scholarship is an international scholarship scheme which enables students with leadership qualities from 144 countries and territories to undertake post-graduate study or courses in universities in the United Kingdom.

There were 298 applicants from across the country, representing an increase in the number of persons seeking the scholarship. Although everyone could not get a scholarship, Quinn said the number of beneficiaries has moved from two in 2015 to 18 this year. One of the scholars is from Suriname, while the others are Guyanese.

“Not only the number has increased, but the competitiveness in terms of quality of applications has also improved… The process is much more difficult now because of the quality,” said the high commissioner, adding that this year the total cost of the scholarships was $128 million.

The quality of applications, he believes, is testimony to how highly the scholarship is regarded locally.

Quinn was confident that as the response to the scholarship continues to grow, the UK will be able to better fulfil its mandate through the programme by ensuring that persons are given the skills and knowledge to develop Guyana.

He observed that the majority of Guyanese who get scholarships usually return home and contribute to the development of the nation.

Although the UK has to trust that Guyanese would use their own initiative and return, he believes that while interviewing applicants they could tell who would return and who might not be so inclined.

“I have no hesitation in saying that the money is spent well for the benefit of this country,” said Quinn, adding that the UK remains committed to promoting education in Guyana.
Deputy Chief Education Officer Ingrid Trotman, acknowledged the UK’s commitment and noted their contribution to the empowerment of Guyana’s academia by offering Guyanese the experience to enhance themselves theoretically and practically.

One of the past Chevening scholars, Jermaine Grant, said among the field of study that the scholars will pursue are environmental policy, mineral resources management, economics and oil-and-gas management, among others.

The 18 scholars for the 2018/2019 period are Michel Amsterdam, Kenton Bailey, Zelena Darshan, Zelanda Glen, McKinne Hackiff, Gregory Harris, Nicole Hayne, Sonia Lord, Maria Paul, Avinash Persaud, Yolander Persaud, Nicholas Peters, Sachin Ramsarran, Dave Saran, Deron Saul, Stacey Weever, Monique Williams and Adonia Benjamin.