A fund has been set up to support and encourage young people pursuing interests in mathematics, the sciences, technology and engineering pursuits, and to memorialise the late Finance Minister Eugene Cox.

In a statement to the media yesterday afternoon, Finance Minister Paula Cox thanked the public for their expressions of sympathy and for paying their respects to her father who was buried on Saturday. She then announced the launch of the fund.

The idea of the fund ? called the ?C. Eugene Cox Memorial Fund? ? was raised by the former Senator David Burch, she said.

?Colonel Burch, in fact, raised the idea of establishing a way in which my father?s memory would be honoured in perpetuity ? after having received numerous telephone calls and comments from the general public, many of whom expressed to Colonel Burch that something meaningful in tribute to C. Eugene Cox should indeed be developed.?

Ms Cox was flanked by Col. Burch, her brothers Jeremy and Robert and MP Glenn Blakeney, all members of the fund steering committee.

?We, the family agreed. The challenge was to devise the most appropriate tribute to his memory given his over-riding interest in young people and his desire to expand and to create meaningful opportunities for them to excel in their community and also to spur interest in the study of mathematics, science, technology and engineering,? she continued.

?Our father always believed in young people and so we believe there could be no more fitting a tribute to his memory than to focus on an initiative that would engage young people at an early age, and to encourage them to develop and/or pursue an interest in mathematics, sciences, technology and/or engineering.?

Mr. Cox believed that all youth could be reached with the right approach, Ms Cox continued.

Already $10,000 has been donated to the fund.

Donations may be sent to the C. Eugene Cox Memorial Fund c/o P. O. Box HM 1785, Hamilton HM HX.