Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, has thanked the United Kingdom (UK) and the British High Commission for offering three Chevening, four Commonwealth and two Queen Elizabeth Trust scholarships to youth in Jamaica for 2026.
The recipients were announced on Tuesday (August 25), during a send-off ceremony inside the Windrush Gardens on the grounds of the British High Commission in Kingston.
Chevening scholarship recipients are Melisha Gordon, Shaqkeera Douglas and Akeem Campbell, while the Commonwealth scholars are Jerome Garwood, Emoney Clayton, Lamar-Shey Grant and Ricardo Hunter. The Queen Elizabeth Trust Awardees are Nicholas Kee and Zantaye Thomas.
“The Government of Jamaica remains sincerely appreciative to the Government of the United Kingdom for its steadfast commitment to supporting Jamaica’s development goals and objectives through empowering the nation’s most valuable asset, our human capital. Programmes such as these undoubtedly bring us closer to the realisation of our vision for Jamaica to become the place to work, raise families and do business, and we are well on our way,” Mrs. Johnson Smith said.
“I want to extend heartiest congratulations to you all (recipients). You join a family of just over 750 scholars who left Jamaica, our brightest minds who have been afforded access to some of the world’s most prestigious academic institutions through these invaluable scholarship programmes, and who have returned. These scholars have come back, not only equipped with advanced skills and expertise but motivated by a deeper sense of purpose and service to country,” Mrs. Johnson Smith said.
The Minister said the experience would be phenomenal for the recipients, adding that over the next few months they would be immersed in a new environment that is going to afford them every opportunity to develop professionally, culturally and academically. “Make the most of it. Absorb it all,” she encouraged.
Mrs. Johnson Smith said many Chevening alumni are privileged today to hold positions of influence in Jamaica, and contribute meaningfully to areas critical to national development, which include diplomacy, education, law, finance and health.
She reminded that current public-sector workers and Ministers of Government who are former Chevening and Commonwealth scholars include Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton; Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Hon. Alando Terrelonge; Attorney-General, Dr. Derrick McKoy; former Attorney-General and Minister of Constitutional Affairs, Marlene Malahoo Forte and former Minister of Finance and the Public Service and current Deputy Managing Director, International Monetary Fund, Dr. Nigel Clarke.
British High Commissioner to Jamaica, Alicia Herbert, was elated to award the seven scholars, six of whom were present.
“Tonight, is particularly special because we are recognising different groups of talented individuals. Tonight, is also special because for the very first time, we are bringing together Chevening, as well as Commonwealth scholars, celebrating seven outstanding Jamaicans,” Mrs. Herbert said.
“You have earned this opportunity through your talent, through your hard work and your potential. As you look around you, you feel not only the excitement of what lies ahead but also a sense of the community that you will be joining,” she told the scholars.
Ms. Gordon will be pursuing a Master of Science Degree in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management at Queen Mary University of London; Ms. Douglas will be pursuing an LLM in Technology Media and Telecommunications Law at Queen Mary University of London and Mr. Campbell will pursue a Master of Finance at the University of Cambridge.
In the Commonwealth category, Mr. Garwood will pursue a Master of Science in Construction Economics and Management at University College London (UCL), while Ms. Clayton will pursue a Master of Science in Global Health and Development at UCL.
Ms. Grant will pursue a Master of Science in Applied Anthropology and Community Development at Goldsmiths University and Mr. Hunter will pursue a Master of Science in Innovation and Technology Management at University of Bath.
The Queen Elizabeth Trust Awardees: Mr. Kee, founder and executive director, Kee Farms Jamaica and Ms. Thomas, founder and executive director, Sign Clubs of Jamaica are two of 100 exceptional young changemakers who were selected from across the Commonwealth for grants.
The Queen Elizabeth Trust Awards form part of the Queen Elizabeth II Commonwealth Trust (QECT), established in honour of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
