Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports, Honourable Sharie B. de Castro, has said that the Assistance Grant Programme under the ministry, will aid Virgin Islanders in accessing financial support in the areas of education, sports and creative arts.

Honourable de Castro said, “The objective of the Assistance Grants Programme Policy is to provide a framework for the administration of grants, to set clear guidelines to be followed in the administration of the Assistance Grants Programme, and to set clear parameters for the objective awarding of grants to individuals in the Territory.”

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Marcia Potter, also said that the ministry will determine the priority areas for assistance grant awards each year, based on the Territory’s forecasted needs.

The Permanent Secretary said, “persons will be afforded the opportunity to make suggestions and offer comments, as there will be an electronic format for input on the policy.”  The public is asked to carefully consider the policy and give feedback and input to assist the Ministry in planning the way forward.

The Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports, remains committed to providing high-quality education and rehabilitative services, as well as, facilitating access to, and participation in sports and recreation, in an effort to enrich the lives of all residents of the Virgin Islands.