The future looks a little brighter for a student of the Virgin Islands who wants to pursue a career as a lawyer but couldn’t afford it. Appleby, a global offshore Trust Company in the Territory, is offering a five-year scholarship to the prestigious University of the West Indies.  

Alexander Erskine, Managing Partner on Friday last explained to reporters at a press conference that the gesture is part of Appleby’s dedication to putting education first in each of its worldwide offices.

The scholarship offered covers the individual’s tuition, which is $30,000 per year, while a $5,000 bursary will be given to another individual who may not have qualified for the scholarship.

According to Erskine, the children of the Territory have to be looked after, and Appleby is willing to set the bar in supporting the Territory’s in its quest to address the higher scale of education.

“The BVI is one of the leading offshore jurisdictions in the world which will grow from strength to strength and it’s only fair for us to invest in its people who will help us to build our company,” Erskine remarked.

He noted that every three years, a new individual would be added to the scheme, which means there will be a concurrent level of participation during the course of the scholarship scheme.

“Of course the beneficiaries will be interns at our Appleby Office,” Erskine added. Meanwhile, individuals of the Bursary Scheme can work at other law firms.

Minister for Education and Culture, Andrew Fahie said that Appleby has shown true leadership “that is indeed noble” and hopes that other companies in the Territory will follow Appleby’s lead.   

“We have a firm that is stepping up to the plate. Its action indicates that we have done well here and we want to give back to the community,” Minister Fahie stated.

He pointed for any country to be sustained it must develop and train its people and must find employment after that training is completed. “This initiative is just the tip of the iceberg.”

“No matter if you’re a BVIslander or naturalised you’re part of the solution,” the Education Minister stressed.

He again expressed his gratitude to Erskine who ironically was departing the Territory the following day to manage the Bermuda office. “But at least he’s here to see it through,” Minister Fahie said jokingly.      

Advertisements were published via the media for the potential participants to enter the programme for this semester. However, since the press conference, Erskine promised that more persons will be aware of the scholarship scheme, and seize the opportunity.

Appleby specialises in legal and fiduciary services and is based in the Territory, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Jersey, Mauritius and will be opening two additional offices in Dubai and Switzerland.

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