Chevening Scholar Intends to Contribute to Policy Development

With the dawn of each new year, Sayeed Bernard reflects on his life and chooses a personal mantra or affirming quote that he uses to guide his outlook for that year.

His mantra for the past two years – ‘I stop at nothing’ – motivated him to make a third attempt at being awarded the prestigious Chevening Scholarship, which is administered by the United Kingdom (UK) Government.

The third time was indeed a charm as Mr. Bernard is one of 13 Jamaican Chevening scholars for 2024.

“This is also coming from the backdrop that I had applied for the Rhodes Scholarship, got shortlisted, didn’t get it; applied for the Commonwealth Scholarship, got shortlisted, didn’t get it. So, you can imagine how dejected I was. Mi haffi tek back myself and say: you know what, I’m going to apply for this scholarship,” he tells JIS News in an interview.

The 26-year-old attorney-at-law and journalist, who hails from Cheesefield District in Linstead, St. Catherine, will, through the Chevening Scholarship Programme, pursue a Master of Laws at the Queen Mary University of London.

The St. George’s College and University of the West Indies (UWI) alum is also a motivational speaker who encourages others to be their best self and to hold themself to a high standard of excellence.

Coming from a modest single-parent household, where he faced several challenges, he uses his own life story to motivate others to pursue excellence.

“A lot of persons in a society… things get hard, find it easy to give up, and that’s what’s plaguing our people. My life story, thus far, reminds me that I didn’t necessarily have all the resources needed to get to where I am, but I fought for it. I was not afraid of hearing the nos. I was not afraid of going through the failures, getting up and going again. I was not afraid of asking – because closed mouths don’t get fed,” Mr. Bernard says.

“Generally, the resilience behind it all is understanding that it doesn’t really matter where you come from; it really matters where you see yourself going, and if you use that to propel you… then there is no world where you could imagine yourself that you’re not successful,” he shares.

As part of the 2024 cohort of Chevening Scholars, Mr. Bernard will benefit from a fully funded year of studies.

After completing his studies, the scholar, who manages his own firm, Sayeed Bernard Attorney-at-Law, intends to contribute to policy development in Jamaica.

“The short term is to come back home and start practising again and over the medium-term to leverage government, non-governmental organisations, civil society to give greater efficiency to the justice system and how we deal with policies that affect our country, how do we debate them, how do we craft them,” he tells JIS News.

Mr. Bernard notes that the programme of study has several modules that are specific to what is needed in Jamaica.

“For example, quality advocacy, how to write policies, technocratic abilities. It also deals with things like how we use technology to give greater efficiency in business, and also in justice and so there is… a world of modules to choose from that basically allows me to tailor my programme to address what I hope to do when I return,” he explains.

In addition, he says, “I have a love for company law so it will allow me to do some company courses. But I also have a love for justice and addressing societal ills, and it will also allow me to do those courses as well. They call it on the Queen Mary website the bespoke LLM (Master of Laws).”

Mr. Bernard says his participation in the global scholarship will further accelerate his growth and development, enabling him to think differently, critically analyse and make more impactful and meaningful change.

“This programme, they try to identify [persons] who have demonstrated leadership capacity and abilities, who can forge a path for change in their country. So, while good academics are important, they seek rounded persons. So, you can’t just be brilliant; you have to be involved in different areas in the society,” he points out.

“My careers have emboldened my passion for advocacy and justice, my passion for correcting ills in society. So, the work that I do is in a bid to help to correct some of that, whether it be through the court system or through policies, legislation, or through a change in the thinking of society. That’s what I’m passionate about, and so I do it in my own small way.

“Even before I became an adult, I was always doing humanitarian work through different foundations and organisations [helping to] build schools, painting, feeding the poor, visiting children’s homes and elderly homes. That, in essence, makes up the ethos of who I am,” Mr. Bernard says.

He says that the advantage of the Chevening Scholarship “is that once you become a scholar, you’re now a part of a global network”.

He notes that in Jamaica, there a national Chevening alumni, which comprises persons all over the country in different sectors and industries, from members of parliament to business leaders, to doctors, lawyers.

“That network, as you would imagine, especially in a country like Jamaica, will go a far way in helping you to make the changes you need to, to achieve the goals that you want to achieve and most of all fulfil your leadership potential,” he shares.

Mr. Bernard encourages other Jamaicans to apply for the Chevening programme and benefit from the opportunities provided through the initiative.

“It basically gives people from all different backgrounds an opportunity to give greater developmental contributions to their industry and by extension to their country, and that is what Jamaica needs.

“It needs young people who are invested in their country, young people who want to see better for the country that they will live in and young people who are committed to growing themselves through scholarship and are committed to pouring back into their country. So, I believe that this scholarship is for any leader, any young person, older person from anywhere in this country who, within themselves, is committed to making Jamaica a better place and making themself a better person,” he tells JIS News.

The other Chevening Scholarship Award recipients from Jamaica for 2024 are Nathanael Amore, Anthony McKenzie, Toni-Ann Taylor, Janielle Mckoy, Jomarie Malcolm Gordon, Tajay Grant, Renee McDonald, Sonya Murray, Najae Murray, Leneka Rhoden, Oluwatomilayo Bewaji Edokpa and Shantal Artwell.

They will undertake one year of study at Edinburgh, Newcastle, Coventry, Roehampton and Oxford universities, London School of Economics and Political Science, and University of London.

Courses of study are energy and climate change, sports biomechanics, data science and analytics, education, international development, law, regulation, compliance, brand management, technology and telecommunications.

The application period for the 2025/26 Chevening Scholarship programme is now open and closes on November 5, 2024. Persons may apply by visiting www.chevening.org/scholarship/jamaica.

The Chevening programme accepts applicants between the ages of 25 and 43, who are evaluated based on their character, academic achievements, and recent work produced in their careers. The programme is aimed at developing global leaders across the world.