Students of the St Mary’s College in Saint Lucia and the Charlestown Secondary School in the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis are the winners in the respective categories of the 11th OECS Essay Competition, hosted and sponsored by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB).
This year, the competition was judged in two categories: ages 14 to 16 and 17 to 19. Markynl Thomas of the St Mary’s College in Saint Lucia emerged as winner of the age 14 to 16 category.
Markynl wrote on the topic: “The role of entrepreneurship and private sector development in the growth of the region’s economies: What is being done and what more can be done to facilitate the growth of entrepreneurship and private sector development in the region?”
Daricia Wilkinson of the Charlestown Secondary School captured first place in the age 17 to 19 category. She wrote on the topic: “The impact of the global economic crisis on developing countries. What lessons should OECS member countries take from this experience?”
The OECS Essay Competition is aimed at encouraging critical thinking and raising awareness of secondary schools in the region on issues of economic development. The competition, which is part of the ECCB’s Community Outreach Programme, is open to secondary schools in the eight member territories of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU).
The other topics for the 2011 competition were:
1. Are we doing enough to promote sustainable use of our local products and natural resources and in so doing promote self-sufficiency in the OECS?
2. Financial markets play a key role in the development of the economies of the OECS. Discuss.
3. In order for the OECS countries to attain sustainable economic growth, the region must shift its emphasis to new knowledge creation, research and development, and entrepreneurship.
4. What steps can OECS governments take to improve the global competitiveness of the OECS tourism industry?
Two hundred and fifteen students from schools across the ECCU submitted entries. The essays were assessed for content, soundness of points, logical development knowledge of the subject, command of language and presentation.
Vanessa Williams of the Grenada Seventh Day Adventist Comprehensive School and Ezbai Francis of the Vieux Fort Comprehensive School were adjudged second place winners in the respective categories.
Jhovan Daniel and Azrudee Lindsey both of Montserrat Secondary School captured the third place in both categories.
The two first place winners will each be awarded a $2,500 cash prize and a grant of $1,500 will be awarded to their respective schools.
The students who placed second will receive $1,500 and their schools will receive a grant of $1,000; while the third place winners will each receive $1,000 and their schools will receive a grant of $500.
For the second consecutive year, the Antigua Girls High School will be awarded a grant of $500 for submitting the most entries.
Certificates of recognition will also be awarded to students in each category for the essay that was judged the best in each country.
