BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS (MARCH 15TH 2004) - Two nationals of St. Kitts and Nevis are among five CARICOM nationals who were awarded scholarships to pursue further studies in finance, law, banking, business and economics through an recent initiative of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and regional development agencies.
Kittitian sisters Idris Fidela Clarke and Tehara Clarke, Sylvia Eugene of St. Lucia, Jonathon Fox of Barbados, and Verlyn Faustin of Antigua are pursuing post-graduate studies at United States universities and are being encouraged to use their knowledge to support regional development when they return to the Caribbean.
USAID’s manager of the programme, Mansfield Blackwood, made this exhortation at a recent farewell function hosted by the organisers of the scholarships – the Caribbean Regional Intern-Scholarship Programme (CRISP), a USAID project to aid economic development in the region.
CRISP is an initiative of the USAID/Caribbean Regional Program (CRP). Partners in the programme include Aurora Associates International Inc., a US-based firm, and the Centre for Management Development (CMD) of the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill campus.
CRISP seeks to support economic growth in the Caribbean by developing the region’s human capacity and providing the skills needed for fostering regional competitiveness and leadership in the global economy. CRISP achieves its mandate through the provision of scholarships, internships, seminars and other human resource developmental programmes.
CMD’s programme leader, Dr. Jeannine Comma, has encouraged the scholarship winners to “think internationally in this global village,” while Aurora Associates’ Senior Project Manager, Gundu Rau, said the five would be ambassadors for their territories and that they should “stand up for their values and share their culture and experience.”
