Two TT nationals win Chevening scholarships

TWO Trinidad and Tobago nationals, Nestor Garcia and Reyad Mohammed, have been selected to receive fully-funded scholarships to pursue their master’s degrees in the UK, said the British High Commission in a press release on August 22.

Garcia, a UWI graduate was part of the award winning delegate at the 65th Harvard National Model United Nations Competition. There he won the Diplomatic Commendation Award.

With over five years of international tax policy and experience, Garcia plans to use his passion for the subject to improve the technical expertise of local stakeholders in dealing with international tax issues.

He will be pursuing a Masters of Law in International Tax Law at the Queen Mary University of London.

Garcia said, “Being awarded the Chevening Scholarship is a truly life changing opportunity to develop not only my international tax expertise at one of the best tax programmes in the world but also will foster lifelong connections with future change makers.

“On my return to TT, I will strive to help build domestic capacity to deal with contemporary international tax issues.”

Mohammed is currently an Environmental Education Officer at the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) where he builds national awareness through shaping and

implementing national climate action strategies while fostering public engagement. He earned a degree in Biology at UWI St. Augustine in 2020 where he specialised in Marine, Environment and Ecology Biology and received the Best Performance Awards in all three areas.

Committed to achieving sustainability through education, he founded the youth-led NGO ClimateWho and will be pursuing a Masters of Science in Climate Change at the University College London.

He said, “Securing a Chevening scholarship is an everlasting honour and the pinnacle of my achievements thus far. This extraordinary experience will undoubtedly provide me with unparalleled avenues for professional and academic advancement and mutualistic networking opportunities.

“Upon returning, I aim to leverage the knowledge and experiences gained during this journey to empower a generation of Trinbagonian climate stewards."

British High Commissioner Harriet Cross said, “We are immensely proud of Reyad and Nestor on their Chevening Scholarships. Their selection to pursue advanced studies in Climate Change and International Tax Law reflects the exceptional talent and potential within TT.

“The UK believes in the power of education to change lives, and we are committed to supporting the next generation of leaders from this vibrant nation."

She encouraged more students to apply for the Chevening scholarship as she believes it an opportunity to “gain world-class education in the UK and to bring back valuable knowledge and expertise to contribute to the future of TT.”

The Chevening scholarship is an international awards programme, funded by the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office, which aims developing global leaders since 1983. The selection process is highly competitive and applications are reviewed by British embassies and High Commissions around the world.

Over 160 TT students have received scholarships and have contributed to fields including government, climate, journalism and law.

Applications for 2025 scholarships close on November 5 and can be submitted at https://www.chevening.org/