CFBC Graduate Mr. Wricherley Gumbs Receives the Joshua Obadiah Williams Excellence Award
The Joshua Obadiah Williams Award established in 1995 by the Williams’ family, is given annually to the graduating teacher of the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC), who has completed the University of the West Indies (UWI) Associate Degree in Teacher Education with the highest GPA, in both the written examinations and the teaching practicum.
On Tuesday, 9 February 2021, at a small ceremony at the Poinciana Conference Room at the CFBC, Mr. Wricherley Gumbs, received the 25th presentation of the Joshua Obadiah Williams Award (EC $3,000). Mr. Wricherley Gumbs also received the Ministry of Education Scholarship Award for the Most Outstanding Student in Teacher Education, the St. Kitts-Nevis Bar Association Award Secondary Teachers Award, the Returning National Association Teacher Award for Best Male Performance and the William Ferdinand and Cynthia M. Dore Award for the Best Student in the Division of Teacher Education. In 2020, he was the recipient of the President’s Excellence for Secondary Teacher Award, along with the Award of Merit.
Joshua Obadiah Williams, after whom the award is named, was born 11 October 1926 in Barnes Ghuat, Nevis, to Albert Victor Williams and Adosha Elisabeth Williams. After attaining the Seventh Standard Certificate, he became a pupil teacher in 1942 at the age of 16 and taught at St.Thomas School, Lowland, Nevis. In 1948, he came to St. Kitts and continued teaching and studying. He went to Erdiston Teachers’ College in Barbados (1955-1957) and on his return, taught at the Cayon School and then the St. Paul’s School. In 1965, he went on to UWI Mona Campus in Jamaica, where he completed the Professional Certificate in Education. On his return to St. Kitts, he was made Headmaster and was assigned to the Molineux All Age School, which was re-named in his honour.
Joshua Obadiah Williams retired from the Basseterre Boys School in the early 1980’s. He will always be remembered as a pioneer in the field of education, an advocate of high morals and strong family values. During his journey along the path of life, he touched hundreds of students, including his favourite Music and Singing Student, Mr. Gairy Knight, and outstanding Mathematics and Quiz student Mr Randolph Taylor, who were Wricherley’s lecturers, mentors, and advisors in the Associate Degree Teacher Education Program at the CFBC.
Joshua Obadiah Williams through the generosity of the Williams’ family, is still touching teachers like past winners of the Joshua Obadiah Williams Award: Ms. Rosemary Govia (2001), Mr. Olston Strawn (2002), Mrs. Colette Lewis (2003), Ms. Natasha Daniel, Mr. Dwayne Weekes (2004), Mr. Lester Morris (2005), Mr. James Morris (2006), Ms. Shenelle Pemberton (2007), Mrs. Sheronne Lowe (2008), Ms. Faith Lewis (2009), Ms. Ella Wangechi Ngunjirl, Ms. Sherilyn Phillip, Mrs. Tresa Willett Herbert, (2010), Mr. Kyle Edwards (2011), Mr. Donato Wharton (2012), Ms. Tamara Morton (2013), Ms Phylicia Warner, (2014), Mr Miguel Thomas (2015), Ms. Shirmel Drew, (2016), Ms. Karina Hanley (2017), Mr. Eustace Davoren (2018) and Mr. Geron Elliott (2019). Mr. Wricherley Gumbs (2020) continues the proud tradition of being a beneficiary of an award, named in honour of a man of noble character Joshua Obadiah Williams.
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The Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College has made strides towards the accreditation process
Basseterre, St. Kitts (CFBC): The Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC) has made strides towards the accreditation process by receiving a certificate of registration from the St. Christopher and Nevis Accreditation Board, effective November 1st, 2020. This milestone underscores just the first of many steps aimed at enhancing the College’s overall academic prowess, a core initiative CFBC President Dr. Jacqueline Austin has set her sights on with great passion.
“Essentially what accreditation is about, is mapping what we do—all our systems, procedures, operations—to ensure international best practice and standards,” President Austin further articulated. She cites her concerns of ensuring that CFBC students obtain the very best support they need as a key driver behind securing accreditation, with the process asking probing questions such as, “Do our student services meet international standards?” “Are we offering the requisite counseling services?” “Do we have systems in place for students who need support, from the time of admission to the time of graduation?”
“Overall, we need some of our programs to have a complete overhaul—that’s the reality. So, when students leave the institution, they can hit the ground running. This is an opportunity for us to demonstrate as a Small Island Developing State, that we can achieve excellence, but it takes hard work, determination, and diligence if we are to remain focused on the goal.” Accreditation will compel us to honestly and transparently examine CFBC’s program quality, student learning outcomes and overall quality standards in administrative areas such as finance, technology and student records.
CFBC Students Awarded SAFE Scholarships
The SAFE program recently awarded 177 students from the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC) with
monetary assistance for their studies. Scholarship recipients will be required to perform at least four
hours of volunteer service per month and maintain high academic standards.
Mrs. Patricia Isles Caesar, Assistant Secretary, expressed the challenges faced with incomplete
applications and encouraged students to ensure the applications were correctly and completely filled to
expedite the process. She highlighted that all students must volunteer. “Students who do not fulfill the
requirements will lose their benefits.”
The acronym SAFE stands for Support for the Advancement of Further Education and is awarded to
citizens of St Kitts and Nevis who are enrolled at the CFBC, Nevis Sixth Form College, AVEC or UWI Level
One. The Scholarship covers registration, examination and other fees. An allowance of $1000 will be
paid at the end of the academic year to students who attain a passing grade in any two of the following
subjects: French, Spanish, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Pure or Applied Mathematics.
“It’s in your hands to ensure you put in the work, volunteer and hone and develop new skills. There are
many paths to success, but volunteering improves your employability” encouraged Mr. Pierre Liburd,
Director of Youth. Minister of Education et al, Honorable Jonel Powell echoed his sentiments, as he
implored the scholarship recipients. He stated “You are able to build character by volunteering and
giving back.”
Congratulations to all the recipients and we encourage you to make the most of this opportunity!
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CFBC Celebrates 32 Years!
“My Government has always held the view that education is the master key to meaningful development
in our society, and the best foundation for nation-building” stated Education Minister the Honorable
Sidney Morris during his address to officially launch the College of Further Education, The Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College, then the College of Further Education, was officially opened on September 26, 1988 with Ms. Dulcie Richardson as the first Principal.
The College started the 1988-89 academic year with three divisions. The Division of Teacher Education,
the former Teachers Training College, had 58 students; the Division of Technical and Vocational
Education and Management Studies replaced the St. Kitts-Nevis Technical College, and had 180
students; and the Division of Arts, Sciences and General Studies comprised of the Sixth Form at the
Basseterre High School, and Adult and Continuing Education classes, and had 452 students. Since then,
the College has opened an additional two divisions, the Division of Adult and Continuing Education and
the Division of Health Sciences.
In 1997, the College Library was opened with Ms. Virginia Browne as its first Librarian and the UWI Level
1 Programme was introduced with 23 enrollees in September 1998. This franchised programme was
delivered from the faculties of Education and Humanities, Science and Technology and Social Studies of
the University of the West Indies.
In 2000 the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations replaced the GCE Advanced Level programme
and the National Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) scholarship for top performance in
technical education was introduced. The CFBC issued Associate Degree Certification for the first time in 2000. Students who pursued the General Nursing Education programme were the first recipients.
The following affiliation and articulation arrangements with other tertiary institutions and professional
organizations developed over the years.
- University of Technology, Jamaica which offers special tuition rates to CFBC graduates.
- The delivery of the Barbados Community College (BCC) Associate Degree in Office
Administration and Management Programme - Caribbean Tourism Association (CTO) Associate Degrees in Hospitality Studies and Culinary Arts.
- Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)
- University of the Virgin Islands (UVI)
- City and Guilds of London which offers special tuition rates for CFBC graduates.
As we celebrate this momentous occasion, the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College would like to say thank
you to the citizens and residents of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis for their continued support over
the years!
Sir Clarence Fitzroy Bryant Founder, CFBC
CFBC COVID-19 Compliant According to National COVID-19 Taskforce
In preparation for the reopening of CFBC campuses, the College was visited by the National COVID-19
Taskforce on 1 st September 2020 to ensure that our implemented guidelines were satisfactory. While
touring the campus, the team witnessed the College’s preparation.
New guidelines in place includes plexi-glass for various workstations around our campuses, adjusted
library hours, assigned seating and other regulations to limit the number of persons visiting the library
during a given period. Signage has been erected all around the CFBC campuses urging persons to
sanitize their hands, wear their masks and practice social distancing.
The College has made the move to engage in blended learning to limit the number of students gathering
at any given time. For classes, such as labs, that require hands-on learning, spatial seating and class
limits have been instituted and large classes will be split in two if necessary. However, the protections
put in place go beyond the classroom. Upon entering the College, persons are subjected to hand
sanitizing, temperature checks and a logbook meant for contact-tracing and designated isolation rooms
on all campuses are available in the event of a potentially sick student/staff.
As the team toured the Hospitality building, Ms. Marsha Bassue, Director of Hospitality, explained the
changes that were made to ensure the safety of the students as well as patrons of the various events
they normally hosted. Several of their events, including the Bar competition would be virtual, and the
themed lunches would be take-out only. Dr. Hazel Laws, Chief Medical Officer, gave approval for Ms.
Bassue to attend the training of hoteliers, bartenders and restaurant personnel, hosted by the St. Kitts
Tourism Authority.
We are pleased to announce that after the visit, the team discussed and deemed CFBC as COVID-19
compliant.
New CFBC Excellence Toastmasters Club Gets Chartered
The CFBC Excellence Toastmasters Club #07738285 is the second of its kind in the Federation and joins
the extensive Toastmasters International family which consists of over 16,000 clubs. Although formed at
the College, the club is a community-based club and has members from various backgrounds. The Club,
chartered on May 08, 2020 is supported by CFBC President and Distinguished Toastmaster, Dr.
Jacqueline Austin, Distinguished Toastmaster Sanjana Manek, and Gillian Carmichael-Brandford and
Eartha Cassius, members of the Sugar City Toastmasters Club.
The Club aims to fulfill the purpose and mission of Toastmasters International which is to teach public speaking and leadership skills and to support persons from diverse backgrounds as they become more confident speakers, communicators, and leaders.
The club is led by a seven-member Toastmasters executive team that consists of President: Terence
Dublin, Vice President of Education: Shernnel Thompson, Vice President of Membership: Venetta
Smithen, Vice President of Public Relations: Nigencia James, Secretary: Jalen Monzac, Treasurer: Fayola
Saddler and Sergeant at Arms: Lavonne Clarke.
Not only does the CFBC Excellence Toastmasters Club provide regional exposure for its members
through various leadership opportunities but it also provides international exposure through the ability
to attend meetings all around the world via zoom. With all the benefits derived from being a
Toastmaster, personal development is inevitable.
Persons who become Toastmasters improve their public speaking skills, build leadership skills, expand their network, gain a competitive advantage in the workplace and have access to an educational program that allows them to leverage over 300 practical workplace skills, including: interview preparation, project management and conflict resolution.
The club meets every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month via Zoom at 5:30 p.m. Feel free to visit one of
the meetings! https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89165409286?pwd=YkIzZGFrc1h5OTdSZ05Yc0FqTm5GZz09
Webinar: Small Business Conversations from the Frontline: Problems and Solutions
The CFBC collaborates with the School of Business of the University of the Virgin Islands to promote and execute the webinar entitled, “Small Business Conversations from the Frontline: Problems and Solutions” on Wednesday, 22 July 2020 from 3 p.m until 4 p.m. There will be an opportunity for a business to engage in a collaborative consultation session with the UVI School of Business and the CFBC.
This webinar focuses on uplifting small businesses that have been severely affected by the current global pandemic, many of whom have been forced to reimagine their business as they reenter the economy.
Link to register: https://zoom.us/…/
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CFBC Celebrates its Inaugural Staff Appreciation Day
Friday the 13 th is usually synonymous with bad vibes and omens. However, the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC) put some positivity into the day by recognizing the hard work of all members of staff. On March 13, 2020, CFBC celebrated the first Staff Appreciation day under the auspices of CFBC President, Dr. Jacqueline Austin. wearing matching CFBC shirts, the members of staff gathered at the UWI Open Campus’ Conference Room ready for the day’s adventures.
Educational, inspirational and all-out fun were some adjectives used by staff members to describe the day’s events. The day began with Dr. Austin providing words of encouragement and gratitude to the staff members. She recalled an experience from her youth in which she was trying to learn how to roller skate. The lesson here Dr. Austin explained, is that “no matter how many times you fall, no matter how many persons are looking and laughing, you get up and keep trying.”
The staff members also participated in a developmental session on “Managing One’s Personal Finances.” Following a buffet lunch, the group departed to participate in the activities of their choosing. Some members enjoyed a historical tour of Brimstone Hill while others fueled their adrenaline with an energetic game of paintball.
Those members who wanted to savour a more relaxing experience, chose to receive facials and pedicures facilitated by the Advanced Vocational Education Center (AVEC) Cosmetology program. After all the festivities, several persons expressed their delight in the Staff Appreciation Day and suggested that it be a regular occurrence.
In the words of John F. Kennedy “as we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”
CFBC Strives for Excellence with New MOU and Partnerships
For many years, the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC) has signed several Memoranda of
Understanding (MOU) with various colleges and universities. An MOU is a formal document between
two or more parties which outlines a number of agreements beneficial to all involved. Most recently,
CFBC refreshed an MOU with Novia Scotia Community College.
This MOU refresh has led to increased
benefits for CFBC as Nova Scotia Community College will be offering faculty the opportunities to
augment their teaching skills through an Adult Education Foundation program that highlights new
technology and andragogy or new ways of teaching adult learners. We have also entered into new
MOUs with Keyano College and DeVry University.
While MOUs are not new to CFBC, Dr. Jacqueline Austin, CFBC President, credits her participation in the
Canadian Bureau of International Education’s mission to Canada in November 2019 as a contributing
factor. This mission involved a rigorous application and selection process after which Dr. Austin was
selected to visit Canadian colleges and universities to glean best practices.
The acquisition of these MOUs has resulted in opportunities for student and faculty exchange,
professional development, scholarships and 2 + 2 matriculation. These agreements offer significant cost
savings to our graduates and global and cultural exposure. As the educational landscape changes, it is
important that we evolve and offer a seamless approach to learning which the MOUs can facilitate.
CFBC is pleased to announce that in our pursuit of excellence, we continue to partner with local,
regional and international institutions that provide opportunities for growth and development for our
faculty, staff and students.
CFBC Showcases Innovation and Creativity in Practice
On Feb 19th , 2020 the Organization of the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Ministers of Education delegation visited the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC) as part of their 5th meeting of the heads under the theme “Equity and Access”. CFBC was selected as a focal point of this gathering as an opportunity for us to showcase our innovation and creativity through our Hospitality Department,
Health Sciences Division and ICT program, SKN Robotics team. The delegation included participants from the independent member states of the OECS as well as British dependent territories. This visit placed us in a position to be viewed by the region and the world as a premier higher education institution and to showcase learning in practice. We demonstrated our ability to respond to real world challenges with the latter being heavily displayed by our Health Sciences
Division and the SKN Robotics team.
As part of their presentation to the delegates, the Robotics team displayed their humanoid project and 3D printed mobile prosthetics, a feat that is a first for the OECS. They also demonstrated their crop- dusting drone technology which aims to reduce the costs associated with aerial crop-dusting while still providing an efficient solution. At the Health Sciences Division, the student nurses and their lecturers demonstrated the use of technology in nursing practice through several scenarios, one of which was an accident victim. The delegates were able to observe the scenarios as well as learn more about our state-of-the-art skills lab that the nursing students utilize as central to their learning environment.
Host, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Honorable Shawn K. Richards; was intrigued by the college’s programs. The delegates enjoyed a scrumptious lunch curated by the Hospitality department, who also commended CFBC on the strides being made. Director General of the OECS, Dr. Didacus Jules, stated that he was delighted by the presentations at CFBC as they highlighted the importance for the member states to develop their own innovative projects.
Dr. Jacqueline Austin, CFBC President, highlighted the benefits of the visit to the College. Dr. Austin explained that having the opportunity to engage with high level decision makers was a game-changer for CFBC and its students as it offered the unique opportunity for us to express our needs directly to those who are the influencers. She also stressed that while CFBC was a focal point of the visit, the benefits extended to Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis as we were able to draw attention to the fact that while we may be a small island developing state confronted with resource constraints, we are still able
to signal to the world that we have wealth in our human resource and that education has a
transformational effect on our society.
The Ministers pledged to continue their dialogue on substantive issues regarding educational development in the OECS as well as the policies and strategies needed to advance the implementation of the OECS Education Sector Strategy.
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