By: Precious Mills
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Friday 15th October 2021) — Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the TDC Group of Companies Earle Kelly announced that despite a number of cutbacks, the annual Warren Tyson Scholarship Programme will not be affected. Speaking at the 40th annual induction ceremony on Saturday 9th October 2021 at TDC’s head office on Fort Street, he said: “We at TDC are firmly of the view that this is an investment — come pandemic and hurricane or earthquake, we are going to continue to support the Warren C. Tyson Scholarship Programme. We have decided to cut back on a number of things and this is one area where we decided we can’t cut back on because it’s an investment in the future. Rest assured that all things being equal, this programme will continue for another 40 years.” To date the company has had 249 students in the programme, an investment of between $4 and $6 million. Currently 57 students are in the programme and TDC estimates spending approximately $100,000 per year.
Eight new high school students from St. Kitts-Nevis were inducted into the Warren C. Tyson Memorial Scholarship Award Programme, and eight runners-up were recognised as TDC Financial Services Academic Excellence Award recipients, with six from St. Kitts and two from Nevis in each category. The scholarship awardees are: Jamual McDonald (Charlestown Secondary), Shakirah Wilkin (Gingerland Secondary), Jazara Jarvis (Basseterre High School), Dave Cannonier (Cayon High School), Denim Henry (Charles E. Mills Secondary), Hezekiel Richardson (Saddlers Secondary), Antwone Percival (Verchilds High School) and Shakaylia Tatem (Washington Archibald High School). Chief Education Officer Francil Morris congratulated all recipients and applauded TDC for continuing to support students during the COVID-19 downturn.