In a significant development within the People’s National Party (PNP), Shameel Brown has been appointed to spearhead the board responsible for managing the OT Fairclough Trust Fund Grants—a key mechanism for empowering party workers through education and development support.
This transition marks a generational shift in leadership as Brown takes over from former board chair and Member of Parliament, Richard Azan, whose tenure was praised for its discipline and dedication to the fund’s core mission.
Youth at the Helm
Brown’s rise reflects a broader strategy by the PNP to energize its base with younger, policy-driven leaders. As current Chair of the PNP Welfare Commission and Vice President of the PNP Youth Organisation (PNPYO), she brings both institutional insight and field experience. Her academic background in sociology and her ongoing postgraduate studies in public and development management at the University of the West Indies further reinforce her profile as a data-conscious, reform-oriented operator.
Party insiders say Brown’s appointment signals more than symbolic change—it’s a move designed to recalibrate the fund’s impact in line with modern social needs, mentorship pathways, and long-term economic inclusion.
Strategic Distribution
The OT Fairclough Trust Fund recently finalized its 2025 awards cycle, issuing scholarships to dozens of tertiary-level students across the island. The program, long seen as a critical lifeline for party supporters and their families, is expected to expand its strategic scope under Brown’s watch.
The fund’s board includes appointees from each of the party’s six regions, as well as representatives from major party arms—ensuring broad-based governance. These include:
- Karen Hinds Spencer (Region 1)
- Saneika Kelly (Region 2)
- Karl Kirkland (Region 3)
- Patricia Harris (Region 4)
- Verna Manning (Region 5)
- Colin Hitchman (Region 6)
- Sheina-Gay Richards (PNPYO)
- Rev Dr Paul Blake (The Patriots)
- Tiara Murray (PNP Women’s Movement)
- Granville Valentine (National Workers Union)
- Keisha Lewis (Councillor Caucus)
A New Era of Targeted Social Investment
With Brown at the helm, the party is positioning the Trust Fund as a sharper tool in its social development arsenal—aiming to enhance accountability, tighten eligibility frameworks, and broaden mentorship alignment for recipients.
According to senior party figures, Brown is expected to focus on measurable outcomes, particularly in how scholarships translate into tangible socio-economic upliftment. The transition also comes amid wider calls from within the party for more transparent, data-backed spending on social programs.
As the PNP moves toward its next internal policy conference, Brown’s stewardship will likely become a bellwether for how the party intends to shape its next generation of leadership—not only in rhetoric, but in resource allocation.
