Colin Fagan, MP for South East St Catherine, holds Trishauna Gooden, a second-year student at the Caribbean Maritime Institute, during his back-to-school project at Portmore HEART Academy. Gooden received over $40,000 to assist with her expenses.

Colin Fagan, minister of state in the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development and member of parliament (MP) for South East St Catherine, had his hands full as hundreds of students from his constituency flocked the the auditorium of the Portmore Heart Academy recently to collect back-to-school grants.

The MP was flanked by his special assistant, Camile Bolton, constituency secretary, Primrose Scott, Councillors Alric Campbell, Fenley Douglas, Horace Brown and Renair Benjamin and all addressed the gathering.

In his address, Fagan commended the top GSAT achievers of the schools in his constituency and urged them to continue to work hard as only through education they will be able succeed and see their dreams come true. He also made mention of the support that he has given in the past and showed off some students, who he continues to support, who are doing well in tertiary institutions.

This year Shawneil Feron, and Victoria Chandon of Portsmouth Primary and Diandra Blair, Tevin Clarke of Waterford Primary all got full scholarship, while Shaquille Johnson and Paula-Ann Cummings had their full tuition paid. They will attend Ardene, Hampton, Wolmer's Girls, Kingston College, Wolmer's Boys and Immaculate high schools, respectively.

The others who were in attendance got grant assistance ranging from $2,000 to $10,000 for primary and high schools and $25,000 to $50,000 for tertiary institutions. Book vouchers for other students who were not able to attend will also be distributed.

There was also special assistance to two persons from Fagan's constituency. Tricia Gooden, a second-year student at the Caribbean Maritime Institute, was given over $40,000 to help with her expenses and Errol Andrews received $35,000 to sit a level two football course at G.C. Foster College

In saying thanks on behalf of the scholarship winners and the others who received grant funding, Cummings pledged that they all would do their best to make their parents, teachers, the MP and all of Portmore proud. "The member of parliament is owed a debt of gratitude," she said.

The funding was secured through the Constituency Development Fund and administered by the Social Development Commission.