BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, October, 5th, 2011 (CUOPM) – Acting Minister of Education, the Hon. Patrice Nisbett has called on scores of students who are recipients of monetary scholarships to demonstrate fiscal discipline and be role models for their peers.
“We expect you to demonstrate your gratitude for this scholarship award by presenting yourselves as role models in your manner of speech, dress, deportment, approach and attitude to work. You must exercise social, intellectual, academic, moral, and, in this instance, fiscal discipline in your general, daily dealings and behaviour,” Minister Nisbett, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs told the students during a ceremony at the Basseterre High School Auditorium.
He told the 175 students who will share the US$100,000 that the ceremony attended by St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, Taiwan’s Resident Ambassador, His Excellency Miguel Tsao and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Mrs. Willett “celebrates benevolence, kindness, assistance, co-operation, participation and sharing.”
“The Government of the Republic of China, Taiwan, has again risen to the occasion, and has come on board yet again in providing resources of a concrete, tangible nature, that bring relief and replenishment to many of our promising, deserving students. The amount being distributed this morning is approximately EC$270,000. Each of the recipients is awarded a monetary scholarship in cash.
That is lot money. I wish to congratulate all of you fortunate enough to have been selected as a recipient. I am certain that you, your parents, your family, your friends and your instructors/teachers are happy and proud,” said Mr. Nisbett.
He gave strong advice to value the scholarship and be committed to use the award prudently, judiciously, and maximally.
“You have shown promise and potential. Continue to hone them to perfection. Continue to work towards, produce and embrace excellence. Continue to persevere, to persist, to perform, to progress,” said the acting education minister, who further expressed the most profound sense of gratitude, thanks and appreciation that “my Ministry in particular and the Government in general feel, have and give to the Government and people of Taiwan for yet another act of supreme benevolence to the people of this beautiful island.”
He noted that St. Kitts and Nevis as a Nation have benefited beyond adequate description from the largesse that the Government of the Republic of China on Taiwan continues to share with its friends and allies.
“Clearly, our relationship with the Republic of Taiwan has borne much succulent fruits over the years of our existence as a politically independent nation. Over and anew, time and again, the Taiwanese administration has stepped up to the plate, so to speak, and made significant, tangible contributions to our thrust in development.
When that assistance is made to the fields of sports, agriculture, social and community development, health, law enforcement, etc, we as a Government and people are extremely happy and grateful,” said Acting Minister of Education Nisbett, pointing out that when that contribution, however, is made for the enhancement of education, “our sense and spirit of appreciation and thanks are multiplied manifold.”
He told the students from all primary and secondary schools, the Nevis Sixth Form and the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College that education is self-redeeming.
“It is valuable for its own sake. It is a critical, nigh indispensable means to any worthwhile, useful, positive end. And so we in the Government see education and its provision to all our citizens, as being the fulcrum of all our efforts to effect sustainable development in our country.
We recognize, then, that this colossal task of making quality, relevant education accessible to our people cannot be successfully undertaken without the direct, deliberate, consistent support and intervention from other stakeholders, from our friends and allies,” said Minister Nisbett.
In expressing deep appreciation to Ambassador Tsao, Minister Nisbett said that the Government “ welcomes readily and wholeheartedly all and any assistance offered and given by any person group or entity that shares our vision of a fully-educated populace, and enjoins us in the struggle to bring that vision to reality.”
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