SAINT LUCIA CRUISE PORT AWARDS 2026 SCHOLARSHIPS TO TWO OUTSTANDING STUDENTS, ADVANCING NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH EDUCATION

(Castries, Saint Lucia, August 7, 2026) – On Friday, August 7th, Saint Lucia Cruise Port (SLCP) concluded the second iteration of the Saint Lucia Cruise Port Scholarship, awarding two full undergraduate scholarships to exceptional Saint Lucian students. The program enables recipients to pursue degrees at accredited universities in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, or any University of the West Indies campus (Cave Hill, St. Augustine, and Mona), with all major costs; tuition, accommodation, books, meals, and airfare covered for up to four years.

Launched in 2025, the SLCP scholarship supported four students pursuing undergraduate degrees in engineering and medicine. For 2026, SLCP adopted a more strategic approach to align the scholarship with critical national workforce priorities, focusing on two broad categories: STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and Non-STEM fields.
This year’s scholarship cycle concluded with 93 applications from high-achieving students demonstrating strong academic achievements, meaningful community involvement and diverse areas of study; all essential to Saint Lucia’s long-term development.

To ensure transparency, preserve applicant anonymity and ensure integrity of the selection process, SLCP developed and implemented a dedicated online application solution to receive and manage all submissions and to facilitate the initial shortlisting process with the assistance of AI. Following the first round of screening, a scholarship committee was convened to conduct a blind review of shortlisted candidates, further evaluating their academic merit, leadership potential and alignment with national priorities.

Following this rigorous screening process, the 2026 scholarship recipients are Shyne Savory attending Bishop’s University, Arts Administration (Drama Concentration), Minor in Marketing, and Rhea Barrett, attending Florida State University, Cell and Molecular Neuroscience.

Honorable Minister John Paul Estephane, Minister in the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce, Investment and Creative Industries, Culture and Heritage, Bernice Marcellin, Director of the Human Resource Development Unit within the Ministry of Education, Youth Development, Sports and Digital Transformation, Dr. Sean Matthew, Chairman of the Board of Saint Lucia Cruise Port, and Mr. Lancelot Arnold, Director of GPH Eastern Caribbean and General Manager, Saint Lucia Cruise Port, were in attendance.

Ms. Marcellin emphasized the importance of developing skilled professionals to support Saint Lucia’s continued growth and modernization. She stated, “We need professionals who are prepared to lead across all fields and disciplines, strengthen our institutions, create new opportunities, and position Saint Lucia to compete confidently on the global stage.”

Honorable Minister John Paul Estephane spoke to the importance of private entities and the role they play within the wider society. “The Ministry of Tourism fully supports private entities that look beyond immediate financial gain and contribute to the very fabric of our society, particularly to our future, our youth. We applaud Saint Lucia Cruise Port for its generosity and wholeheartedly support its efforts to transform the lives of young people through education.”

Reflecting on the transformative impact of the scholarship, Mr. Arnold emphasized SLCP’s guiding principle of “Investing in People,” particularly with respect to the nation’s youth. “We are honoured to play a role in shaping the course of a young person’s life for the second time. Our 2025 scholars continue to perform exceptionally well, both in and outside of the classroom, and we remain committed to supporting them in every way. For these two bright, ambitious young women, we have full confidence that they will continue to excel and chart a unique path; not only for themselves, but also to create a lasting impact in both the science and arts spheres of our nation. Saint Lucia Cruise Port remains committed to supporting Saint Lucians, and we look forward to more years of empowering our youth and investing in the future of Saint Lucia.”