Saint Lucians Do It Again

Saint Lucian Chevening scholarship awardees

Six Saint Lucians have been awarded scholarships in the much coveted Chevening Scholarships global scholarship programme of the British government. The Scholarships are awarded to exceptional individuals with leadership potential and enable the recipients to study one-year Masters courses in a range of subjects at UK universities.

The aim of these scholarships, funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, aim to support UK foreign policy priorities by creating lasting positive relationships with future leaders, influencers and decision makers.

Left to right: Miguel Trim, Tommy Descartes, Melissa Hippolyte-Descartes, Ernette Kangal, Tevin Shepherd, Christal Jean

Of the 4300 applicants from the Eastern Caribbean 43 were interviewed by the British High Commission in Barbados, and only 18 were selected - Saint Lucians making up 6 of the total.

Eastern Caribbean Chevening 2016 scholarship awardees

On Tuesday the awardees gathered at the British High Commission's office in Bridgetown where High Commissioner Victoria Deane congratulated the scholars and expressed pleasure that this year every single country in the Eastern Caribbean to which the High Commission is accredited had a scholarship recipient.

Saint Lucia also created a first for the scheme as husband and wife pair Tommy Descartes and Melissa Hippolyte-Descartes will both pursue degrees in Economics at the University of Nottingham.

Tommy Descartes said the fact that he and his wife were accepted to study at the same university shows that Chevening is pro family.

Melissa Hippolyte-Descartes said both she and her husband were passionate about economic development and excited to get an opportunity to study what they love which will allow them to return to the Caribbean and to serve as economists with the government of Saint Lucia.

Meanwhile, Christal Jean, who currently holds a bachelor's degree in Forensic Science will pursue her master's in Genetic Manipulation and Molecular Cell Biology. She says the opportunity to advance her passion in forensic science will benefit Saint Lucia.