UWI student thankful after getting CDF grant

Leisha Thomas, a final-year student at The University of the West Indies (UWI), has heaped praises on her member of parliament, Rudyard Spencer, for directing a portion of his Constituency Development Fund (CDF) towards education.

Thomas, who is reading for a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology, has been a recipient of the CDF grant, having first got it in 2017. She said that when she first received the grant, it came at a time when she was struggling to find guarantors for her Students' Loan Bureau application.

"I am from a poor background, and my parents did their utmost to do the little they could, but it was still a struggle," she said.

Thomas was among more than 180 students who collected grants from Spencer at a ceremony held at Wembley Centre of Excellence on Sunday.

"I applied early and I am proud to say the grant received cleared off my tuition for my final year, and I am comfortable to continue my studies without the fear of being deregistered from the university."

Winston Maragh, mayor of May Pen, said that Spencer spends approximately $6 million on educational grants each year.

"This assistance has been going on since 2002 when MP Spencer came to the constituency, and over the years the number of students being assisted has grown tremendously," he said.