BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THREE nationals of St. Kitts-Nevis, one male and two females, will soon be leaving these shores to pursue studies in Medicine under the longstanding Scholarship Programme between the Federation and the Republic of Cuba.
They are 22-year-old Jonathan Carty of Newton Ground, 22-year-old Kentisha Daley of Bath Village, Nevis and 21-year-old Louwana Dorset of Bladen Housing Development.
A presentation ceremony was held on Friday afternoon (Sept. 6) at the Embassy of the Republic of Cuba at Bladen Housing Development which was hosted by resident Cuban Ambassador Hugo Ruiz Cabrera.
Among those in attendance were Cuban-trained health professionals, parents, government officials and representatives of the Cuba St. Kitts-Nevis Friendship Association.
At the ceremony, some attendees gave testimonials of a pleasant experience in Cuba. And some of whom, in doing so, indirectly refuted the alleged anti-Cuba statements made in the political arena.
Apparently, these scholarship selectees have been chosen from a field of 33 applicants.
Public Relations Officer of the Cuba St. Kitts-Nevis Friendship Association, Earl Clarke told the recipients to “always remember that it is three of you who are going on this scholarship and there are 30 more people who would be glad to have the privilege that you have. So don't disappoint us; grab the opportunity and make something of yourself and return.”
Senior Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kaye Bass thanked the Cuban Ambassador “for working on behalf of our people”.
She gave motivational words to the scholarship recipients and wished them success in their endeavours.
She pointed out that after former Cuban Ambassador to St. Kitts-Nevis, Jorge Payret Zubiaur had completed his term, “we had no idea if we were going to get the scholarship”.
Bass went on to say: “We were so happy that it came through and though it's less than previous years, we are so grateful for the opportunity that's been afforded to our people..."
All three scholarship recipients gave words of appreciation during the ceremony.
Carty said becoming a doctor was “something that “I wanted to do ever since I was young growing up. This is a gift and I'm so thankful for it”.
Dorset pledged to take full advantage of the academic opportunity.
“It's a privilege. I will keep focused and we will try our best because we want to come back and help our country, because that is what it is all about in the end.”
According to Daley, “Becoming a doctor has been a dream since third form (in high school). I did Biology and I loved it. But it was a dream I thought was just going to be a dream and now I have the opportunity to make it a reality, so I'm very grateful for that.”
President of the Cuba St. Kitts-Nevis Friendship Association, Telca Wallace, during an interview with SKNVibes, praised the continued bilateral partnership in education.
“Having our young people access the gift of education in Cuba is a phenomenal responsibility for them to do well because they are getting it free of cost, and so I'm very happy to be at this occasion for them to be presented with their scholarships and I know they are going to do the country proud.”
Wallace expressed thanks to the “leaders and people of Cuba for continuing to extend this hand of friendship and assistance to St. Kitts”.
“Many persons would not have been able to reach the heights they have reached in the area of education had it not been for the scholarships in Cuba, and so St. Kitts is in a key position and we are thankful to be in this position. We have professionals; many of them who have come from Cuba and our country is better for it,” she added.
She explained that one of the thrust of her association is “to make that cultural bridge”. She also took the opportunity to lash out against the alleged political slandering of Cuba.
“We in St. Kitts have our own culture. We have our own challenges and I believe every country and every nation on earth have their challenges as well, and it behoves all of us to appreciate the fact that even though Cuba is not a wealthy country they have been extending themselves, not just to St. Kitts-Nevis but to our region and the world. And then to have politicians slander and attack the culture and the economic situation within Cuba and to (brand it) about something that make them better, is really beneath us as Kittitians. As Kittitians we should be humble, we should be grateful and be thankful for every person who has extended themselves to us.”
This media house also spoke with Ambassador Cabrera and asked what advice he would offer to the scholarship recipients.
“The principal advice that we extend to the students, the three of them, is to keep focused in their studies, to maintain the idea that they are going to Cuba to finish their career to become doctors in the course of six to seven years and after that come back to the country and provide assistance in their country in order to improve the health system and well-being of your people. So this is the most important thing that they have to go to Cuba with a clear mind to (become) a professional, and after that to come back to your country and continue with that kind of investment and to provide to your people a better healthcare and better life.”
The Ambassador was asked what the students could expect when they go to Cuba.
“They can expect a country with a lot of hospitality. We are not a rich country but we are a country that shares what we have, and I can tell you that they will find a people...very lovely people. We've been able to provide any type of assistance and I am sure that in spite that we have some difference in our cultures, I'm sure that they will get familiar very quickly with the Cuban way of life and they'll be ready to join to our people as one.”
The scholarship recipients are scheduled to depart the Federation on Thursday (Sept. 12) and will be engaged in Spanish Language studies for one year before beginning their studies in Medicine.
