Javani Alleyne is the first recipient of the Errol Walton Barrow Scholarship, awarded by the Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training (METVT).
He received the scholarship today as the Ministry announced the names of students from secondary schools and the Barbados Community College, who captured Barbados Scholarships and Exhibitions, during a ceremony at Erdiston Teachers’ Training College, Pine Hill, St. Michael.
In outlining the rationale for the scholarship, Minister Kay McConney said: “The Cabinet of Barbados decided that in honour of the life and work of the late Prime Minister, The Right Excellent Errol Walton Barrow, a scholarship would be awarded each year to qualified Barbadians who completed their education at a school established after 1951 (once referred to as newer secondary schools).
While noting that the area of study must relate to one of the following: Culinary Arts, Aeronautics, and Maritime Studies, she said they represented areas of special interest to National Hero The Right Excellent Errol Walton Barrow. “He loved cooking; he loved flying his aircraft; and he loved fishing,” she noted.
Ms. McConney stated that beyond this, the areas align with some of Barbados’ current national priorities, interests, and needs.
The Errol Walton Barrow Scholarship, she added, will be awarded annually at the college or university level to a student who pursues technical, vocational, or other academic areas, at the associate and undergraduate degree levels.
Mr. Alleyne, who will be pursuing a Bachelor of Technology in Ocean Mapping, at a marine institute in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada, is a past student of Deighton Griffith Secondary School. He studied land surveying at the Barbados Community College and mechanical engineering at the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology.
In commending the first recipient of the scholarship, the Minister stressed that Barbados recognised itself not just as a small island state but also as a large ocean state. “It is important that we continue to develop the capacity to be able to study the ocean and work with the ocean in ways that are meaningful to this country and this world as we engage in climate change, as we seek to respond to the climate crisis that we are now experiencing,” she said.
Mr. Alleyne, in an interview with the media, said the area of study in Ocean Mapping peaked his interest and marine life appealed to him. Pleased with the award, he added: “Being the first, I do have to carry the baton; I am very thankful and grateful for the opportunity that I was chosen to be the one to carry the baton with the scholarship and I plan to use it to the best of my ability.” (PR/GIS)
Caption: Minister of Education, Kay McConney, with the winner of the inaugural The Errol Walton Barrow Scholarship, Javani Alleyne.
