23 Students Secure EC$2,000 Tourism Scholarships as Applications Hit Record High

Twenty-three secondary school students have secured EC$2,000 annual scholarships from the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF). The group joins a programme that has now supported more than 70 students from families connected to Saint Lucia’s hospitality and tourism sector.

The students make up the 2026 cohort of the Eileen Paul Scholarship Programme, established in 2021 in honour of the Saint Lucia Hospitality and Tourism Association’s (SLHTA) longest-serving employee.

TEF Chairman Winston Anderson described the scholarships as both an investment in education and recognition of the contribution tourism workers make to Saint Lucia’s economy. Telling recipients the programme was designed to give them “a helping hand” on their educational journey, Anderson said the support was also “one small way of saying thank you” to their parents.

The programme has since expanded beyond its original secondary school bursaries. Since 2025, high-performing recipients have been able to access continued financial support as they transition to the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, with three students benefiting from the tertiary component so far.

Students also receive counselling and developmental guidance to assist them with academic and personal challenges.

Competition for the scholarships has intensified. SLHTA CEO Noorani Azeez said the association received its highest number of applications to date, requiring an extensive selection process.

“This is not a freebie,” Azeez told the recipients, pointing out that other applicants had been unsuccessful and stressing the responsibility that comes with being selected.

Azeez also shared a personal connection to Paul, recalling that he had the opportunity to be mentored by her during her years with the association.

SLHTA President Irwin Louisy, meanwhile, reflected on the legacy behind the scholarship, describing Eileen Paul as a woman of determination, drive and care for others.

“As recipients of a scholarship that bears her name, I encourage you to embody those qualities in your own life and let them guide you as you move forward,” Louisy said.

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