The British High Commission Wednesday September 3 presented three Seychellois university graduates with one year scholarships, enabling them to pursue higher degrees in the UK.

British High Commissioner, His Excellency Mr Fraser Wilson, made the awards, worth a combined total of approximately £42,000, to Mrs Sarah Romain, Mr Cliff Gonzalves and Mr Pascal Marie.

The scholarships have been awarded under the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) Chevening scheme, which H.E. Mr Wilson described as "prestigious awards made in most countries in the world, which look to the academic achievements and aspirations of the applicants."

The High Commissioner said that the three selected scholars were chosen after impressing a selection committee with their commitment to their area of study and having shown the ability to rise to positions of leadership in their chosen area, in Seychelles.

Mrs Romain, Mr Gonzalves and Mr Marie faced competition from 30 other graduates for the scholarships, which Mrs Romain described as providing an "incredible opportunity."

Thanking the High Commissioner on behalf of the award winners Mrs Romain called the Chevening Scholarships, "a door that has been opened to us which will not only boost our personal and professional growth, but also contribute immensely to the development of the various government sectors that we represent."

Mrs Romain, who will leave Seychelles to study for an MSc in Public Health Nutrition at Southampton University, is presently employed as the Director of Health Promotion at the Ministry of Health.

Mr Marie works as a Senior Research Officer at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment's Social Development Division and will spend a year pursuing an MSc in Social Development, Planning and Management at the University of Wales, Swansea.

Mr Gonzalves is employed by SWAC (Solid Waste and Cleaning Agency) as the company's Technical Manager and will study for an MSE in Environmental Engineering and Project Management at Leeds University.

The FCO provided complete funding for two of the scholarships and additional finances, for the Burns Chevening scholarship, were raised with a dinner commemorating the birth of Scottish poet Robert Burns, held at the Fisherman's Cove Hotel in February.

Previous Seychellois recipients of the Chevening scholarships included Minister for Agriculture and Marine Resources Mr William Herminie, Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr Alain Butler Payette, Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Industries and International Business Mr Joseph Nourrice, the Corporate Manager at Barclays Bank Ms Dolly Tirant and Cable and Wireless Seychelles Deputy Manager Mr Cyril Bonnelame.

Chevening awards have been made in Seychelles since 1983 and the selection for the 2004 intake, open to Seychellois graduates, will begin sometime in early November.

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