Young Writers & Artists Win Prizes

Seven secondary school students recently emerged as the winners of the first Essay and Poster Competition, in commemoration of World Consumer Rights Day.

The writers and artists received their prizes at an awards ceremony on Thursday, held at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, Two Mile Hill, St. Michael. It was hosted by the Office of Public Counsel, Ministry of Energy, Business Development and Commerce.

Entrants wrote and created under the theme, “Safe Products, Confident Consumers”. Public Counsel, Sandra Rawlins, posited that the title was in recognition of a new generation of consumers within secondary schools.

“These students, once armed with knowledge, not only become discerning consumers with full knowledge of their consumer rights, but can equally influence their parents’ purchasing habits, through educating their households and extended family units.

“Knowledgeable and discerning consumers have a positive impact on the marketplace, as their purchases, or lack there of, will influence suppliers of goods to supply safer, durable products, with access to reliable parts and services; and for the supplier of services to supply those services with reasonable skill and care, within a reasonable timeframe,” Ms. Rawlins stated.  

The first-place winner of the Essay Competition (Junior Category) was Harrison College’s first former, Weiyeng Su. Winners in the Essay Competition (Senior Category) were sixth former, Shadonneia Patrick-White, of the Foundation School, who won first place; fifth former Gabriella Grant of the Daryll Jordan Secondary School was the second-place winner, and fourth former Zephaniah Pilgrim from The St. Michael School copped third place.  

Winners of the Poster Competition were third former Shamya Roach, of Deighton Griffith School, who won first place; Jessie Olton, who is a second former at Harrison College, received second place; and Aidan Langdon, also a second former at Harrison College, was the third-place winner. They received trophies and gift bags.

Students who received Certificates of Participation in the Poster Competition were Harrison College’s Weiyang Su, Hannah Bishop, Michelle Guo, Amara Lalla, Raziah Gooding and Christiano Walrond.

The Creative Excellence School Achievement Award – a $250 gift certificate – was awarded to Deighton Griffith School. The School Participation Award – a $500 gift certificate – was awarded to Harrison College, as it had the highest level of participation in the Poster Competition. (PR/GIS)

Caption: Winning students of the first Essay and Poster Competition, in celebration of World Consumer Rights Day, flanked by their teachers, and officials of the Office of Public Counsel and the Ministry of Energy, Business Development and Commerce.