The PLP Government is committed to providing educational opportunities for our people. That's why we introduced free Bermuda College. And, it's why we've been aggressive in providing scholarships, training, certification and advancement opportunities.

Today, Minister Walter Roban honoured eight deserving students who received the Dr. Barbara Ball Public Health Scholarship. Minister Roban:

The Dr. Barbara Ball Public Health Scholarship is named after a local legend.

Dr. Barbara Ball must be recognized for her contribution to Bermuda both as a healthcare professional, a trailblazer for human rights and a renowned labour advocate.

Dr. Ball led the way in race relations, she led the way as a female, she led the way as a physician and she led the way as a labour leader. There could have been no more fitting person for whom to name this scholarship.

It is hard to believe that in just three years we have awarded some 15 scholarships worth a total of four hundred and twenty thousand dollars.

6 scholarships awarded in Nursing, 1 in Dentistry, 4 in Speech and Language Pathology, 1 in Health Services Administration, 1 in Public Health Practice, 1 in Physiotherapy and 1 in Medicine.

The Government established this scholarship recognizing the worldwide shortage of healthcare workers. Additionally, we wanted to provide assistance to Bermudians who might not have the financial means to pursue their academic goals.

The Dr. Barbara Ball Public Health Scholarship is in line with the vision of this Government to ensure that our community is served by our people.

Although we highly value the contribution of all of our international healthcare workers, it is a matter of sustainability to ensure that as many Bermudians as possible enter our local healthcare sector.

Today we recognize 8 individuals who have made a commitment to return to Bermuda to make a contribution to the healthcare profession...

Unfortunately, we hear so many negative stories involving our youth and they do not do justice to the excellent and well rounded youth who make up the greater proportion of this community.

Our eight recipients are but a microcosm of all that is good in Bermuda.

I would like for our 2010 recipients or their representative to stand when their name is called so that I might know who you are and so that you might be known to each other.

1. Jonae Jervis – Speech and Language Pathology – third year recipient - $13,190
2. Lindsay Lodge – Nursing – third year recipient (presently in school) - $11,000
3. Keira Hill – Dentistry – third year recipient (presently in school) - $20,000
New Recipients
4. Keenan Van Putten – Nursing and our first male recipient - $13,000
5. Jennifer Wilson – Nursing and one of two Department of Health staff who will receive the scholarship this year - $7,800
6. Samaè Williams – Nursing - $11,000
7. Debora Oriol – Nursing and also a Department of Health recipient - $7900
8. Char-Lee Simons – Health Services Administration - $16,000

These 8 scholarships represent a one hundred and twenty thousand dollar commitment of the Government generally and the Ministry of Health specifically to assist you to achieve your academic credentials.

Congratulations to the students. We wish you the best of luck with your studies.