Lloyd to request increased funding for BTVI

Lloyd to request increased funding for BTVI
Minister of Education, the Hon. Jeffrey Lloyd addresses BTVI’s commencement ceremony on Friday, May 28, 2018. (BIS Photo/Patrick Hanna)

D’Aguilar family announces scholarship endowment fund

Minister of Education Jeffrey Lloyd declared that the country needs the best and brightest in technical and vocational fields as he delivered keynote remarks at the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute’s (BTVI) Commencement Ceremony at Melia Nassau Beach on Friday.

With the increased demand for technical and vocational graduates not yet being met through BTVI, and in light of the country’s insistent need for more persons with those skills, Lloyd stated that his ministry is requesting increased government funding for BTVI to the tune of nearly $1 million.

During the ceremony, Dionisio D’Aguilar, Minister of Tourism & Aviation, announced a scholarship endowment fund on behalf of the D’Aguilar family to benefit the the institute.


Scholarship endowment fund established on behalf of the D’Aguilar family to benefit the Bahamas Technical & Vocational Institute, in memory of the late Vincent D’Aguilar. Pictured from left at the BTVI commencement ceremony, May 18, 2018: BTVI Chairman Kevin Basden; Minister of Education Jeffrey Lloyd; Minister of Tourism & Aviation Dionisio D’Aguilar; Marina D’Aguilar, wife of the late Vincent D’Aguilar; and President of BTVI Dr. Robert W. Robertson, standing next to photo of Vincent D’Aguilar. (BIS Photo/Kemuel Stubbs)

The scholarship endowment is in memory of his late father, Vincent D’Aguilar.  The total value of the scholarship is $50,000 per year beginning Fall 2018.

During his remarks, Lloyd explained how technology is transforming cosmetology, fashion, business, the automotive industry and every other conceivable arena in which we live, meaning there is a compounded demand for persons with technical and vocational training.

He said that pursuing a technical or vocational education does not imply absence of academic capability, as “no society has ever functioned to the maximum of its potential, unless it’s been able to fix and create its own things. In fact, when you defer that responsibility to the other, you become an enslavement to that other.”

Graduates and well-wishers filled the room. (BIS Photo/Kemuel Stubbs)

Lloyd said along with his current annual budget proposals, he will be requesting an additional $600,000 for BTVI this year.

Rounding out a ceremony that pointed to very positive developments for BTVI, Lloyd said, “When we look at our beautiful, wonderful, talented, gifted students, this system must respond to their needs in a timely fashion.”

The event was said to be filled with proud supporters and well-wishers.

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This article was written by Sydnei L. Isaacs, Bahamas Information Services.