In the Community

SOL CARIBBEAN LTD has been lauded by the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI) for its part in investing generously in the education of the region’s young people.

The commendation came recently from Paul Altman, Chairman of the UWI Campus Council, as he addressed students, donors and members of Faculty and staff of the UWI Cave Hill, at the recent Students Awards Ceremony. The annual event was held in Lecture Theatre 1 of the Roy Marshall Teaching Complex under the theme “Rewarding Excellence: Championing Success”.

Altman thanked all donors, including several from the regional banking sector for contributing particularly during this time of economic austerity, though he reserved special mention for SOL CARIBBEAN, and CIBC FirstCaribbean.

“Let me say that we are all very aware of the current financial situation which exists in Barbados and all over the world. It is in this period of tightening our belts that our faithful donors have continued to provide much needed support to our students,” Altman said.

He continued: “I wish to express special thanks to two donors for their outstanding contributions, SOL CARIBBEAN, and CIBC FirstCaribbean. At the undergraduate level CIBC FirstCaribbean awarded 14 scholarships valued at $5000 each for one year, and the total there is $70 000; at the post-graduate level, SOL CARIBBEAN awarded three scholarships: two scholarships valued at $30 000, and the other scholarship award valued at $25 000, total contribution there is $85 000 from SOL CARIBBEAN.”

The Council Chairman noted further that UWI remained the single largest donor of scholarships, providing at the postgraduate level 20 awards valued at $858 000, nineteen of which were two-year awards valued at 22 000 per year, and one one-year award valued at $22 000.

Speaking following the ceremony, Sales & Marketing Manager, Kirk King, who presented on behalf of SOL CARIBBEAN LTD, said the company’s contribution was a fulfilment of a formal commitment the company made to regional educational development when it signed a three-year partnership agreement with the UWI in 2012.

“We are extremely pleased to be here tonight to tangibly demonstrate our commitment to this agreement under which eligible students at the undergraduate and post graduate levels stand to benefit from a pool of just under BDS $1 million which will be contributed by Sol over the next three years,” King stated.

More than one hundred undergraduate and postgraduate students were recognised for excellent performances in their academic, sporting and co-curricular pursuits.