Government Spends EC$1.6M In Training Annually

A press release from the Department of Public Administration states that the Government of Anguilla continues to recognize and support the need to educate Anguillians thereby equipping them to hold key positions on the Island. Government has invested a considerable amount of money in training Anguillians and is presently assisting one hundred (100) students in the UK, USA, Canada, India and the Caribbean, with funding for their studies.

Thirty, (30) of the one hundred (100) students are on full scholarships provided exclusively by the Government of Anguilla. Three other students are the recipients of extensive scholarships, given on behalf of the Government of Anguilla by the Government of India, the Cuban Government and the British Chevening Scheme. The Government continues to assist these students through the payment of salaries or other costs.

Forty two (42) students are receiving assistance through the Government’s financial assistance programme. Government is also meeting the cost of studies for twenty four (24) public officers and one (1) police officer who are pursuing their degrees at the University of the West Indies Distance Education Center in Anguilla and by Distance Education in the United Kingdom.

This support for education and training costs the Government of Anguilla approximately one million six hundred thousand Eastern Caribbean dollars (EC$1,600,000.00) per year. To help offset this cost persons who have received their training at the public expense and who have failed to return to Anguilla to honour their student bonds are required to repay the funds made available to them for their studies. The response has been encouraging as persons have repaid in excess of EC$300,000.00 to date and many continue to establish repayment plans to meet their obligations.

The Government’s Training Committee will be meeting in early March to identify national priority training needs for 2006/7. Thereafter, applications for financial assistance and scholarships will be processed. Persons interested in pursuing further studies are encouraged to submit applications for scholarships and/or financial assistance by 28th February 2006. Application forms can be obtained from the Department of Public Administration.