Devi St Luce, age 25, from the cultural capital of Grand Bay, has been awarded the Chevening Scholarship 2022/2023 to pursue a Master’s degree (LLM) in Drafting Legislation, Regulation and Policy at the School of Advanced Studies, University of London.
On August 26, 2022, the recipients of the 2022/2023 Chevening Scholarship were officially announced. St Luce is among two Dominican females chosen for the prestigious Chevening Scholarship, with the other recipient being Debra Francis, also from the South of Dominica. The Chevening Scholarship offers full financial funding to persons seeking to pursue a Master’s degree in a university in the United Kingdom (UK). Individuals are eligible based on their demonstration of strong leadership qualities and academic excellence.
Notably, in 2015, St Luce was the recipient of the National Performance Award in Arts and Sciences. At present, St Luce is an Attorney-at-law in Waiting, having completed a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus in Barbados, from the period 2017 to 2020. During that period, she was awarded the Time Kendal Q.C Memorial Prize in the Law on Contract. Just recently, St Luce completed her Legal Education Certificate (LEC) at the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad and Tobago.
Outside of the legal field, St Luce is an active youth and entrepreneur who owns the business, Day-Vie’s Printing Biz which assists students and youth alike with research, homework and job applications. She is also a member of the Grand Bay labour youth organization, a fervent member of the National Youth Council’s Constitutional Reform Committee and the youngest member of the campaign team for the Honorable Dr. Vince Henderson, Parliamentary Representative for the Grand Bay constituency. Moreover, St Luce developed a greater passion for children and the youth after having taught at the St Martin Secondary School (SMSS). This in turn created a deeper passion for the protection of children’s rights.
Guided by her high school motto, ‘Labor Omnia Vincit- Hard Work Conquers All’, St Luce expressed that the astounding success she has received is due to her hard work.
Upon interview with Emonews, she highlighted that she was inspired by the 2021 Chevening cohort to apply for this prestigious scholarship as a great number of Caribbean scholars pursued the LLM in Drafting Legislation, Regulation and Policy, which she is passionate about. “I was encouraged and elated that in the Caribbean we have identified shortfalls in our law and are looking for ways to change them. I have identified the lacuna and areas which require change in Dominica and with hard work and determination I will make these changes,” she voiced positively.
Moreover, she pointed out that she was confident that she would have been a recipient of the Chevening Scholarship 2022/2023 as she has excelled academically and has great interpersonal skills as it relates to interviews. Furthermore, St Luce has displayed great networking skills and community involvement particularly with her internship as the Judicial Research Assistant of the Civil High Court Judge, Justice Birnie Stephenson.
St Luce expressed that upon getting the news that she had been selected as a recipient, she was filled with excitement and gratitude. “I was ecstatic and grateful as I realized that I was one step closer to achieving my dreams and making a positive impact on my country which I have always
desired. This opportunity provides me with avenues and networks to draft laws which are equal and fair across the region,” she added.
According to St Luce, she recognized that legal drafters are needed in Dominica and Chevening is seeking new thinkers and brilliant minds that have the capabilities to make that change. She stressed that legal drafting is a specialty that remains on the government of Dominica’s list of national priority training areas. “I am ready to take on the mantle and make a difference in my country. I am pursuing this degree as it has been brought to my attention multiple times by strangers, friends and family, that there needs to be an urgent change in the appointment of public officers,” she stated.
She went on to add, “Many public officers have acted in a position for a number of years and have not been appointed in that position which is unfair as it reduces their motivation to excel in that post. Thus, I am eager and ready to draft and make changes which provides proper guidelines for the appointment of public officers by ensuring more appointment of long serving employees.” More importantly, St Luce highlighted that with the increase of child sexual abuse cases, there needs to be an urgent Sexual Offenders register as well as the implementation of measures to increase reporting especially when committed by persons in authority. “I also want to further our laws with international best practices,” she asserted.
In light of her achievements, St Luce took the opportunity to thank everyone who has been instrumental to her success. “My mother has taught me to work hard in order to be successful. She pushes me to follow my dreams and to never give up. She instilled in me from a young age, ‘The heights by great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight, but they while their companions slept were toiling upward in the night’. Thus I am able to make sacrifices to achieve my goals,” she voiced. She also thanked her closest friends Marva Bell, Shanice Isidore and Keri Lee Bertrand and her aunts Doreen Toussaint, Juliana Williams and Mary Toussaint who, consistently support and push her to follow her dreams.
In addition, St Luce encouraged persons with a genuine interest in Chevening to start researching on the programmes and UK schools early as it is integral to the process. “Be confident in your abilities and your passion and highlight your achievements. Do not be afraid to sell yourself as this scholarship awards authenticity. Apply early and message current or past Cheveners for advice. Chevening is a network and everyone is willing to help,” she ended.
As St Luce continues her academic journey, Emonews wishes her all the best in this endeavor and those to come.
