Antigua ensures educational, economic opportunities for all

Manipal, Karnataka, Jan 19 (UNI) Antigua and Barbados Prime Minister Winston Galdwin Spencer today asserted that his Government, with its ''people first philosophy'', had committed to ensure that every citizen and resident had access to opportunities to better himself educationally and economically.

Speaking as guest of honour at the convocation ceremony of Manipal University here, he said his Government's contract with the people "agenda for change" had clearly stated to promote a set of policies designed to upgrade the intellectual capital of the nation.

''Our social and economic recovery programmes have been very successful and serve as a model for other countries in the Caribbean region.'' Mr Spencer said ''motivating people in our communities to fulfill all our missions, fully developing telents, freeing them to express themselves, supporting them in achieving their own goals and inspiring them to work together in pursuit of our shared vision is the key to ensuring a vibrant and productive society. In doing so, we are greatly inspired by the words of Mahatma Gandhi who said we must become the change we want to see.'' He said his Government strongly believed that education was the most effective means of empowering people. It was the Government's intention to redouble its efforts to ensure that the people of the twin-island nation had access to quality education from infancy to adulthood. The Government's goal included upgradation of educational infrastructure, collaborating with its international partners for offering scholarships to its students for study abroad, ensuring and improving access to information technology, strengthening the linkage between educational system and development of tourism sector and improving opportunities for adult and continuing education, he added.

Appreciating the fast development of India, he said it was indeed a testimony to the commitment and will of India and its people that India was fast emerging as one of the major economic and intellectual centres in the world not only in the IT field, but also in production of services and goods as well as intellectual, scientific and educational areas.

UNI