Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw presenting citation to Rev Lenworth Sterling, former Chairman of the Rio Tinto Alcan Scholarship Steering Committee and retired principal of Ferncourt High School. Rev Sterling was honoured for his years for service to the Scholarship Programme throughout the past 10 years.

The Rio Tinto Alcan Legacy Fund Agricultural Scholarship Programme has awarded scholarships to 342 students across the parishes of Manchester, St Ann and St Catherine.

Students will receive support in areas relating to tuition, transportation, lunch, books, uniforms, agricultural tools and other related expenses.

The Fund sponsored by Rio Tinto Alcan is in its 11th years of existence. It is administered by the Jamaica 4-H Clubs and managed the Development Bank of Jamaica. The aim of the Fund is to promote social development through investing in the training and empowerment of youth attending agricultural educational institutions in the island.

Approximately $126.7 million has been distributed by Alcan Rio Tinto Fund since its inception with 1,451 beneficiaries thus far, said Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw, at an appreciation ceremony on Thursday, October 22.

“Jamaica’s socioeconomic development is heavily dependent on the environment we cultivate for our youth. This environment must be inclusive, futuristic and conducive to sharpening their skills and outlook. The opportunity to access relevant educational facilities is critical to strengthening this reality,” said Shaw.

He stated that as the Ministry streamlines its New Face of Food mandate with specific focus on food security, agribusiness development, climate-smart technologies and export expansion; youth and advancing their educational opportunities are instrumental to process.

To support this, the Ministry will be providing educational support through funding of over J$120 million to the College of Agricultural Science and Education (CASE).

“Additionally, we will be providing $2.8 million in irrigation support systems to the primary schools through collaboration with the Food and Agriculture organization of the united nations (FAO) and the Jamaica 4-H Clubs,” stated Shaw.  

A partnership is also in place with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to facilitate the development of a new agro-processing lab at the Knockalava Polytechnic College.

J$8.4 million was distributed to the parish of Manchester under the scholarship programme for the academic year, St Catherine received J$15.1 million and St Ann was awarded J$9.3 million. 

Throughout the programme’s tenure, approximately 61% of the beneficiaries attend secondary schools, 7% vocational institutions and 32% tertiary institutions. These beneficiaries range from key instructions such as HEART NSTA Trust (Ebony Park Academy), Knockalva Polytechnic College, Village Academy, Knox Community College, College of Agriculture Science and Education (CASE) and Northern Caribbean University (NCU).

The programme is currently targeting 400 applicants for the upcoming academic year.

A special presentation was also made to former chairman of the Rio Tinto Alcan Scholarship Steering Committee and retired principal of Ferncourt High School, Rev Lentworth Sterling. He was lauded for his contribution and service to the Fund’s steering committee since its inception.

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