TWENTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD law student Weiden Daley is this year's recipient of the inaugural Victor Robinson Memorial Scholarship, established by the National Housing Trust (NHT) in its continuing support of tertiary education.
The scholarship, valued at $175,000, was awarded to Mr. Daley for his outstanding academic performance and leadership qualities at the Norman Manley Law School at the University of the West Indies, Mona, where he is currently pursuing a certificate of legal education. He is in his final year of the programme.
Patrick Lawrence, deputy chairman of the NHT board of directors, presented the award to Mr. Daley at the Housing Trust's Park Boulevard offices in New Kingston last Monday. The scholarship was established in honour of the late Victor Robinson, attorney-at-law of Montego Bay and NHT board member, who died in March 2003.
RECEIVED FOUR AWARDS LAST YEAR
A past student of Wolmer's Boys' School, Mr. Daley received four awards last year for the best performance in his class for criminal practice, procedure and law of evidence. The Kingston Legal Aid Clinic, where he worked for three weeks last summer, also awarded him for demonstrating an exceptional interest in and dedication to the protection of human rights.
In accepting the scholarship, Mr. Daley said the NHT, by assisting him with his tuition at law school, was also indirectly helping others, as he intends to use his knowledge as a lawyer to help the poor and downtrodden in the society.
CONGRATULATED
He added that he was very impressed with the work carried out by Victor Robinson who had often championed the cause of the poor. Mr. Daley also vowed to follow in Mr. Robinson's footsteps.
Earl Samuels, managing director of the NHT, extended his congratulations to Mr. Daley and urged him to become a shining example as an attorney-at-law and a member of society.
Keith Sobion, principal of the Norman Manley Law School, who was also present at the awards presentation, remarked that the intervention of the NHT at this time in helping to finance legal education was commendable as several students at the Mona campus were in need of assistance to further their tertiary education. He also voiced his support of the selection committee in its choice of Mr. Daley as the recipient of this prestigious award, as he felt that the young law student would make a positive impact on the local legal fraternity, upon graduation.
