Orville Grey, a teacher at Cornwall College and previously a junior associate at Conrad Douglas and Associates Limited was recently selected by the United States Embassy to receive the 2002-2004 Fulbright-Organisation of American States (OAS) Ecology Scholarship for Jamaica.

The programme, which was developed under the auspices of the US State Department and the OAS, is aimed at increasing environmental preservation and sustainable development in Latin America and the Caribbean. It enables a qualified Jamaican to pursue a Master’s degree programme in any field in the natural and social sciences related to the ecology and sustainable development.

Grey will pursue his two-year postgraduate programme in environmental management at San Jose University in San Jose, California beginning this month.

He obtained his Bachelors of Science degree in zoology and botany at the University of the West Indies, Mona, and was until recently, involved in field projects and research on Jamaica’s legislation related to industry and the environment. A past member of the Montego Bay Marine Park Volunteers Association, he has been actively involved in matters relating to the environment for over ten years.

Said Grey of his selection: “I wish to be in the forefront of the fight to save our natural environment, especially as it relates to our economy and social welfare. Sustainable development application in Jamaica needs more qualified professionals to address the problem and provide solutions that work.”

He added, “professionally, I want to be technically and academically qualified to tackle the problems in my homeland such as policy formulation, especially in the areas of protected area and database management, environmental law and environmental impact assessments.”

Meanwhile, the US Embasy’s Fulbright Selection Committee said that it is confident that Grey will perform with “distinction at San Jose University and that, on his return home, he will attain a position of leadership in environmental management”.