PORT MARIA, St Mary — THREE students here, who are beneficiaries of the Ministry of Local Government poor relief grant, were recognised for academic excellence in their 2022 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC), Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) and Primary Exit Profile (PEP) exams at a recent meeting of the St Mary Municipal Corporation.

The benefactors — Vanessa Andrews, D’Angelo Gordon and Zain Ffyee — were commended by Mayor Richard Creary for their hard work and overcoming challenges to reach this far.

Each recipient received a grant of $30,000 – $40,000, while the top achiever received a grant of $80,000.

Eighteen-year-old Andrews said she’s appreciative of the grant as she now prepares herself to attend The University of the West Indies. Boasting nine subjects which include CSEC and CAPE, Williams said she became a recipient of the poor relief grant when she started sixth form at St Mary High School. She said the assistance was helpful as her household consists of six children and the struggles are there on a daily basis.

“These grants mean a lot to me. As a recipient of poor relief, it doesn’t define your circumstances, who you are, and where you go,” Andrews, who hopes to become an IT specialist, said.

Gordon, a disabled student at St Mary High, said he had faced many stumbling blocks, such as being often sidelined by his shadow teacher at the primary level.

He said it got to the point where he was left behind in lessons when online classes began in the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, Gordon, who aspires to become a computer programmer, said his resilience, coupled with his mother’s determination led to him being where he is today.

“It was the day of PEP we were informed by the principal that he was to do the exams, during all his time at the primary level. I thank the help I get from poor relief as it supported me with the things he needed for school and travelling. It is not easy,” she said.

Further, 19-year-old Ffyee said he already started his career and is now a member of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).

“I am grateful as it helped with my school, lunch and subjects,” Ffyee said, pointing out that the help came just in time when he was a student at Tacky High School, where he obtained seven CSEC subjects and two City and Guilds subjects.

In the meantime, Creary further committed a grant of $10,000 to each awardee from the mayor’s consolidated funds. He also noted that the awardees were recognised by the Ministry of Local Government at its board of supervision’s awards recognition ceremony which honoured 48 primary, secondary and tertiary level students.