Record Number of Medical Scholarships Among $39.6 Million in Awards

‍ST. GEORGE’S, APRIL 16, 2026 — A record 36 medical scholarships were awarded during the

Ministry of Education’s National Scholarship Awards Ceremony held on April 10 at the Grenada Trade Centre Annex in Morne Rouge, St. George.

This marks a significant increase from 22 medical scholarships awarded in 2025, underscoring Government’s expanded and deliberate investment in healthcare training and national development.

In total, more than EC$39.6 million in scholarships were presented to 68 students pursuing studies at St. George’s University (SGU), reinforcing Government’s strategic focus on building human resource capacity in critical sectors.

The scholarships span several disciplines, with values totalling approximately:

- Medicine (36 students) – EC$31.1 million

- Arts and Sciences (16 students) – EC$5.1 million

- Nursing (11 students) – EC$2.4 million

- Pre-Medicine (4 students) – EC$405,000

- Veterinary Medicine (1 student) – EC$553,000

Prime Minister Hon. Dickon Mitchell, who presented the medical scholarships, described the initiative as both unprecedented and intentional.

“You have a choice of whether you stay and build Grenada or whether you go someplace else and build another country,” Mitchell said. “The taxpayers would expect of us that those who benefit from the nation’s investment must in turn contribute to the nation’s progress.”

The Prime Minister emphasised that the partnership with St. George’s University to secure 36 medical scholarships represents a deliberate effort to strengthen the country’s healthcare system.

“We recognise that simply building infrastructure will be insufficient, although necessary, to ensure that we pivot to making Grenada a healthier and more resilient country,” he added.

Minister for Education, Sen. the Hon. David Andrew, congratulated the awardees and underscored their critical role in national development.

“You are part of the solution,” Andrew said, urging students to contribute through research, advocacy, and service to address national challenges, including improving primary healthcare and promoting healthier lifestyles. The Minister also highlighted ongoing efforts to review and modernise scholarship and bonding arrangements to better align with national needs and individual circumstances.

“The reason why we don’t have enough of the SGU trained medical practitioners practicing in Grenada is because not enough of us – not enough of you, scholarship awardees – come back to serve. So, we are tasked with revisiting our scholarship strategy,” he said. “We’ve discussed with you some of the things we are thinking about to make it more flexible and adaptable.”

Prime Minister Mitchell further stressed that while flexibility will be considered, accountability remains essential.

“We will be flexible, but we are no longer prepared to do so at the expense of taxpayers and at the expense of the development of the country,” he stated.

Permanent Secretary with responsibility for Human Resources and Educational Development, Elvis Morain, commended the awardees.

“You stand here today not by accident, but by merit, discipline and an unwavering commitment to excellence,” Morain said. “You are not simply recipients of an award; you are stewards of our nation’s hope.”

Representing SGU, Associate Vice President of Alumni Affairs Colin Dowe highlighted the university’s global and local impact, noting that it has been the largest provider of new physicians to the United States healthcare system for over a decade and has produced more than 300 Grenadian physicians.

During the award ceremony, additional support came from the Grenada Houston Association (GHA), represented by board member Eric Barry. The GHA awarded a total of USD$2,500 to five students, with each student receiving USD$500.

Speaking on behalf of the awardees, Aime Chase expressed gratitude for the investment, saying, “This function has highlighted the importance and magnitude of the investment that has been made, not only in the personal and professional development of each awardee, but also in the future of healthcare, science and education in Grenada.”

The awards reflect Government’s continued commitment to building national capacity through education, while ensuring that investments in human capital translate into long-term benefits for the country.