Captain Natalie James Proud to Be Top 2023 Marcus Garvey Public Sector Scholar

Captain Natalie James wore a proud smile on Thursday, August 18, as she was officially named among the 19 recipients of the 2023 Marcus Garvey Public Sector Graduate Scholarship.

Nineteen years of her professional life have, so far, been spent working in Jamaica’s public sector, first at the Registrar General’s Department (RGD) for 10 years and then the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) for almost nine years.

Captain James, who is also an attorney-at-law, has held the post of Human Rights Specialist in the Ministry of Legal and Constitutional Affairs for the past 10 months.

She is a member of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Human Rights and had the opportunity to be a part of Jamaica’s delegation to the 108th session of the United Nations Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, in Geneva, Switzerland, in November 2022.

Captain James was overjoyed after being informed that she was the top scholarship recipient.

“I could not scream because I was at work. But I went home and I celebrated. I told my sisters and they were really elated. To this day, I am elated to be afforded this opportunity,” she tells JIS News.

Captain James will be pursuing a one-year Master of Laws in Public Law at the University of the West Indies, Mona, commencing September 2023.

She epitomises service above self and gives of her time as a Justice of the Peace and a certified Parish Court Mediator.

In 2020, she was commissioned as a Captain in the Jamaica Defence Force and serves in the Jamaica National Reserve.

Captain James tells JIS News that she has always been keen on advancing academically.

“My academic journey has been fulfilling. I have always been employed full-time and going to school full-time or part-time. What I’ve found is that my education has always helped me at work in carrying out my functions and also uplifting me professionally,” she says.

Captain James holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of the West Indies, Mona and the University of Technology, Jamaica, respectively.

In 2022, she completed a double Master’s Degree in Project Management and International Trade online with Universidad Internacional Isabel I De Castilla, located in Spain.

The Marcus Garvey Public Sector Graduate Scholarship was established by the Government in 2020 to offer Jamaican nationals and citizens employed in the public sector the opportunity to obtain postgraduate degrees from competitive, appropriately accredited universities in Jamaica, North America and Europe.

Upon submission of applications and supporting documents online, candidates are shortlisted using an automated process through a review of the required minimum educational and professional requirements.

Further shortlisting is done using a blind peer review system where applications are reviewed by industry experts utilising a points-based system.

Candidates attaining the highest scores, a minimum of 75 per cent, are interviewed by the selection committee.

Successful candidates are then offered the scholarship, but full conferment is contingent on the candidate’s full acceptance by their chosen university.

Captain James will be working and studying full-time, as she has successfully done in the past.

As head of the Human Rights Division, she coordinates the human rights public education programme.

“I want to be there to play an integral role in advancing human rights for Jamaica. We have been conducting public sensitisation programmes at various ministries, departments and agencies, and it is our intention to go into schools,” she shares.

Captain James aspires to be Jamaica’s legal luminary in the field of human rights.

“One of the courses that I will be pursuing is International Human Rights Law, as well as Administrative Law. What these courses will provide is the opportunity to look on the legislation within my Ministry that affects Jamaica and also how we can improve public service and legislation that will provide for better coverage and protection of our citizens’ rights and freedoms,” she says.

Noting that the application process was compact, Captain James encourages fellow public-sector employees to apply for the scholarship next year.

The programme offers 30 graduate scholarships annually at an estimated cost of $1 billion over five years.

Awardees will be provided with a stipend to cover reasonable monthly costs for living expenses, including meals and accommodation.