GSAT Awardees get Book Grants

Fifteen Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) awardees whose parents are employed to the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) were on Thursday (Aug. 2) presented with book grants valued at $8500 each by Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller.
Speaking at a presentation ceremony held at the OPM, Mrs. Simpson Miller told the awardees that they should not allow anyone to discourage them or cause them to believe they could not achieve their dreams. She reminded them of the last four letters in the name of their country – I CAN – and admonished them to work hard towards achieving their goals.
Mrs. Simpson Miller applauded the parents for supporting their children’s education adding that with guidance from parents and teachers, one or more of the awardees could become Prime Minister. She said her parents never knew she would become Prime Minister, but they instilled in her the confidence that no mountain was too high to climb.
Twelve year old Leon Williams who responded on behalf of the awardees expressed gratitude to Mrs. Simpson and asked for God’s guidance and protection of her. “We know you love us and we love you too,” he concluded, to loud applause from his peers.
The OPM has been making book grants available to GSAT awardees for over five years. The book grants are redeemable at the Kingston Book Shop and assist first form students defray the cost of books and school supplies.