Warner hands out 9 scholarships, begs youth to stay and build T&T

Jack Warner handed out eight scholarships Tuesday to young men and women from his constituency to attend university.

Two are full scholarships and the others will help pay for much of the expenses associated with going through university.

Speaking at a function to hand out the awards, the Chaguanas West MP said he was inspired to set up the scholarship foundation within the constituency by one young man who had completed secondary school with excellent academic credentials.

Warner said the young man sought his help in finding a job. However on reviewing the resume he wondered why somebody with such potential was not going to school.

That's the question he put to the man. Warner repeated the answer to that question:

“Sir, my father is the breadwinner of our family, with the closure of Caroni 1975, the bills in our household became harder and harder to pay. My mother became ill and any dreams I had of achieving any level of higher education slipped through my hands, I had no choice in the matter...I do what I can to gain even temporary employment so that I can assist my family."

Warner said that encounter had a profound effect on him and reminded him of his own struggle against all odds to move forward.

He said he is committed to education because "an educated population holds the reigns of political power. We cannot want to improve the lives of our people with handouts and promises. We must give them the tools to achieve success."

Commenting on his campaign for change, the Chaguanas West MP said, "Let us not just call for change and unity. Let us also call for an empowered nation of thinkers."

Warner told the nine people receiving the awards they must not see this as an enitlement but as an incentive to work harder and do better.

He said," You may think of it as the ticket to a good life. But today, I want to ask you for the alternative. I want you to think of it as your ticket to change the world. But first change Trinidad and Tobago."

He implored them to use their education not as a passport to emigration to work in a foreign country and contribute to the national brain drain.

"I just want to make one appeal to you all. Stay and contribute to the development . of this nation. I beg you to stay and build this nation."

He added, "The world is in your hands. Your pen is also in your hand, please use it to shape Trinidad and Tobago and the world as you please."

The scholarship winners are:
Shazara Ali, Charlene Kissun, Alana Koonoolal, Ishwara Moonsammy, Abbenash Rajnarinesingh, Shivana Maharaj, Nirvana Maharaj, Ms. Nalini Ramsarran and Ravidya Shripat.

Ramsarran and Sripat have received full scholarships.
In Photo: Warner signs the financial documents to open his constituency's Scholarship Fund account. The fund would be administered through the Chaguanas branch of the Bank of Baroda, which is managed by Ajay Kumar. The bank operates branches in Chaguanas and San Fernando.