East Kingstown students receive secondary school bursaries from The Shoe Shop and PAFS

Five students of East Kingstown who were successful in the 2026 Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment (CPEA) exams were all smiles as they received financial assistance to start the 2026/2027 school year which commenced for most students on Monday, September 7, 2026.

At a presentation ceremony held at The Shoe Shop on Saturday, September 5, 2026, the students each received a bursary of EC$500 and a pair of brand name shoes of their choice in a joint effort between Professional Accounting and Financial Services (PAFS), and The Shoe Shop businesses located in capital Kingstown, owned by chartered accountant Kevern Cyrus.

The five students were selected from a pool of successful CPEA students residing in various villages in East Kingstown. The process was aided by some prominent citizens of East Kingstown, and the final list of five students selected following further inquiries, eligibility and assessment.

The 2026 bursary recipients are: Athesian Henry of Walvaroo, now attending West St George Secondary School; Anais Knights of Roseau, now attending Bishop’s College Kingstown; Silas Mc Lean of Sion Hill, now attending the West St George Secondary School; Ameriah Grant of Rockies, now attending the St Joseph’s Convent, Kingstown; and Malachi Marshall of Mala Village, now attending the Intermediate High School.

The bursary recipients and parents/guardians expressed gratitude to Cyrus for his benevolent gesture.

In his remarks, Cyrus, a former scholarship recipient, said the bursaries were one way of showing appreciation and giving back to the community. He explained that in 1991, he received a five-year scholarship from the St Vincent Marketing Corporation, where his mother worked, to attend the St Vincent Grammar School. On his graduation, because of his brilliant performance, the Marketing Corporation extended the scholarship by two years enabling him to attend the St Vincent and the Grenadines Community College.

Cyrus expressed appreciation to parents/guardians and family members who attended the ceremony in support of the students.

“I hope that this financial incentive will go a far way in helping with some expenses, maybe transportation, maybe lunch,” said Cyrus who was born at Long Wall and grew up in Cane Garden, East Kingstown, but has since relocated.

He explained that the idea was to help offset some of the expenses parents already incurred in preparing the students for the new school year, and to help with their last minute shopping for school books and,or additional school uniforms or school supplies they were unable to purchase prior.

“Anything that you face, you can always come back to the Shoe Shop and we will assist you with anything to do with your education,” Cyrus told the bursary recipients and their parents/guardians. (Contributed by Ashford Peters)