Hi Caribbean and CA friends. The following is an attempt to figure out why we are among the last ones to find out from the board.
Our countries do not have to give out Fulbright grants/ETA's. Unlike other countries, such as Mexico and Argentina, our countries do not have a specific number of grants they must give out every year, whether apps were good or not. The board must first guarantee funding for those countries that MUST grant scholarships every year in accordance to international accords. Hence, the board deals with our budgetary issues last, since there is no pressure to grant scholarships in our area. If they run out of funding prior to reaching our area, there is no penalty, for international accords with Caribbean and CA countries do not obligate the State Dept. to grant scholarships to those countries. We are basically to deal with the leftovers. And that is why Caribbean and CA countries, according to data, are always, or almost always, last to receive final word from the board.