THERE will be no return of Multi-Ethnic Affairs scholarships, according to Multi-Ethnic Affairs Minister Charan Jeath Singh who said the ministry had no mandate to offer scholarships.
“Scholarships fall under the Ministry of Education. The Multi-Ethnic Affairs Ministry only funds community and cultural projects, not scholarships,” he said.
For months, community groups had been asking whether the once popular scholarship scheme, scrapped by the previous administration, would make a comeback.
Under the ruling party, there was talk, and even early indications, that the program might be restored. However, those hopes have now been put to rest.
Instead of scholarships, Mr Singh said his ministry has been pouring its resources into long-neglected community projects across the country.
During a tour yesterday, the minister officiated at five completed projects funded by the ministry.
He said the ministry had worked quietly but consistently to revive communities that had gone without assistance for more than a decade. He said more project handovers would follow.
“We are now trying to roll out and start handing over projects wherever we can.”
Last year, Mr Singh said they had a budget of $1.2million to fund projects; they processed about 202 applications.
