scholarships at an American university.

PLP Sen. Trevor Woolridge announced over the weekend that Allen University, in Columbia, South Carolina, had offered 10 places to Bermudians.

And if more than 10 people show an interest, the principal Dr. Collie Coleman has promised that the others will be assessed individually.

Allen University was in the news in the early part of the 1980s when it incurred a $3.8 million debt.

Since then the university has fought its way out of problems and now has its own shopping mall.

It is in the process of building a revolutionary apartment system for students and elderly people.

Sen. Woolridge said: "It allows a mixture of old and young. The elderly people will get energy from the youngsters and the youngsters will be able to learn from the older people.'' He said that a meeting will be held at PLP headquarters at 6 p.m. today when people can turn up and study the plans for the scholarships.

And in January Dr. Coleman will visit Bermuda to speak to students.