2007 Speeches

June 27, 2007

Dr. Roy L. Austin
United States Ambassador
Fulbright 2000 Program Awards Ceremony and Luncheon
Courtyard by Marriott

Good morning!

Members of the government of Trinidad and Tobago; Members of the Ambassador’s Educational Advisory Board, including corporate sponsors and public members; Members of the Fulbright 2000 Academic Screening Committee, chaired by Dr. Marjorie Thorpe;  Mrs. Victoria Mendez-Charles, immediate past president of the Fulbright Alumni Association of Trinidad and Tobago and T&T High Commissioner designate to Nigeria;  Scholarship awardees and parents; Members of the media; Embassy colleagues; Ladies and gentlemen. 

I promise to be brief.

We are gathered here today to congratulate this year’s three recipients of scholarships under the Fulbright 2000 Program.  The identities of these three scholars will soon be revealed.

As many of you may already know, this program was established some seven years ago to benefit academically exceptional students in this country by giving them an opportunity to further their graduate studies at U.S. universities.  A major part of the funding for this particular scholarship comes from public and private sector organizations in Trinidad and Tobago.   To date, nineteen corporations have participated in this program. They have enabled some thirty-four nationals to pursue two-year master’s degree programs in the United States.

Our embassy is very proud of its association with the nineteen organizations that have participated in the program thus far. I commend them for agreeing to be a part of this worthwhile initiative.   In this country and elsewhere, a popular saying is: “put your money where your mouth is;” and these organizations have certainly done just that by contributing close to two million U.S. dollars to this program over the last seven years.   Some of these organizations have sponsored more than one scholarship. Among them are BP, Guardian Life, EOG Resources, Atlantic LNG, Crowne Plaza Trinidad; RBTT; Republic Bank; The Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago and Sagicor Life Inc.  And leading the pack with four scholarships each are BP, EOG and Republic Bank.  

While there are numerous successes associated with this program, we have also experienced quite a bit of frustration in getting more organizations to buy into it.  This year, our embassy approached eleven new organizations to participate.   They all turned us down, many of them stating a preference for investing in local educational institutions or in their own in-house programs. I applaud all such organizations that follow through with substantial financial contributions to the educational advancement of their country’s citizens; but I also make bold to say from my own experience that a parochial educational strategy in any nation will yield an overabundance of citizens who will unquestioningly accept the familiar, even when change will be beneficial.

I must emphasize, as I have done previously, that your nation’s best and brightest scholars must be given the opportunity to study abroad.  In the United States, we have one of the most diverse international student populations in the world. Our universities have at some point been the educational setting for many of the world’s leaders both past and present.  Thus, scholars from Trinidad and Tobago who attend American universities have an opportunity to measure their academic worth on an international level – and they usually do very well. 

While education in Trinidad and Tobago is excellent, an American graduate education offers several advantages, especially for persons whose education is primarily from local institutions.  All of our Fulbright fellows will attest to this claim.  They will tell you that their Fulbright experience was an opportunity of a lifetime. 

The majority of the students who have been recipients of these scholarships would have found it near impossible to finance their studies in the U.S. from their own personal funds.  I am, therefore, encouraging corporate T&T, the major stakeholders in this country’s economy, to assist in catapulting this country’s development forward by investing in its human resources.   Get involved in this worthwhile program.   It’s a small investment with huge benefits for the future of this country.   We have been able to offer 34 scholarships, thus far, let us increase this number significantly.  Ultimately, the country, and if you choose, your individual organization, stands to benefit from this program.  
 
I thank the companies that have stuck with the program from the onset and commend their CEO’s for their foresight. And while we are on the topic of support for this program, I must indicate that the support of the government of Trinidad and Tobago will greatly increase the beneficial effects of this program to this country. 

The Ministry of Energy and The Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago have both sponsored scholarships in the past, and for this we are grateful.   Also, both the Minister of Education and the Minister of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education sit on the Ambassador’s Educational Advisory Board which sets policy for the program. They and you must remind the government that in an age of globalization, education must have global relevance. The ambition to become a developed country should be accompanied by allocation of resources towards an education that will prepare citizens for optimal functioning in a global environment. The Fulbright 2000 program is a ready means for so educating citizens of this country.

At this point, I must express my deepest gratitude to the Academic Selection Committee which always does an excellent job of interviewing and selecting top rate candidates for this program.   The committee is headed by Dr. Marjorie Thorpe, a former Trinidad and Tobago Ambassador to the United Nations.   I thank you all for your selfless support.  Although you are all very busy professionals, we can depend upon you annually to perform this very important task. 

Fulbright Scholars are interspersed throughout Trinidad and Tobago in various spheres. They share their knowledge in academia, commerce and government.   One such scholar is Mrs. Victoria Mendez-Charles, a former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Planning and Development, and also the immediate past president of the Fulbright Alumni Association.  
 
“Vicky” as she is fondly called, was recently appointed by the government of Trinidad and Tobago to be the new T&T High Commissioner to Nigeria.  I understand that she will be responsible for eleven countries in her new posting.  Vicky, on behalf of our embassy and everyone present, I would like to congratulate you on this outstanding achievement.

Vicky is testimony to the far reaching effect of this program.  In her new posting I am sure she will be linking up with fellow Fulbrighters in Nigeria through the local Fulbright Alumni Association there.  Fulbright is not only about obtaining a degree, it is also an opportunity to network with future leaders in the world.  When she goes to Nigeria, Vicky will immediately have access to Fulbright Alumni in Nigeria. A good many, I am sure, occupy positions of influence.  Thus she will be able to draw on one of the considerable strengths of the Fulbright program, the provision of access to a global network.   I predict that Vicky’s tenure will be hugely successful. 

I believe you will be hearing next from Vicky so I won’t go into the details of the viable contribution that she and the other members of the Fulbright Alumni Association of Trinidad and Tobago have been making since returning home after their Fulbright experiences.   Instead, I will let Vicky tell you for herself!

Ladies and gentlemen, I did promise that I would be brief.   I thank you for your time.