The World Poetry Day competition winners pose with the competition coordinators and representatives of the Ministry of Education and Culture at the prize giving ceremony on March 21, 2013. Photo: VINO

Secretary General of the BVI National Commission for UNESCO, Dr Allison Flax-Archer outlined the background of the competition at the prize giving ceremony. Photo: VINO

Miss BVI 2012/2013 Sharie B. DeCastro took the opportunity to recite two of her poems; 'You don’t know my story' and 'The nature of a woman', much to the pleasure of the students and others present at the prize giving ceremony. Photo: VINO

Jhared Jones of Agape Total Life Academy was the 1st place winner in the Junior category. He received his prize of a certificate and a Kindle Fire from Ag. Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Culture Mrs Prudence Mathavious. Photo: VINO

Nia Douglas of Cedar International School receives her prize from Ag. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Culture Dr. Marcia Potter as Ag. Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Culture Mrs Prudence Mathavious looks on. Photo: VINO

The two were winners in the Senior and Junior categories respectively. They also received a certificate in honour of their achievement. Coming in 2nd and 3rd for the senior category were Johana Gibson of Bregado Flax Educational Centre, Faith Amory, and Liliana Rhymer of Cedar International School respectively.

On the Junior side, there were prizes awarded also for 2nd – 5th places in respective order. These went to Zakila Frett of Ebnezer Thomas Primary, Scarlett Greenwood, Josh Cowlard and John Peltigrew of Cedar International School and David Matthews of Agape Total Life Academy.

They received certificates and gift vouchers at a ceremony held yesterday March 21, 2013 at the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports Conference Room.

The ceremony was graced with the presence of a lover of poetry Miss British Virgin Islands 2012/2013 Sharie B. DeCastro who took the opportunity to recite two of her poems; 'You don’t know my story' and 'The nature of a woman', much to the pleasure of the students and others present at the prize giving ceremony. They included Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Culture, Dr. Marcia Potter; Acting Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Culture, Mrs Prudence Mathavious; Principals and Teachers.

The competition was staged by the British Virgin Islands National Commission for UNESCO and the Ministry of Education and Culture in observance of World Poetry Day and was for public and private school students ages 9 to 12 and 13 to 17. The poems were to focus on topics Going Green; How Can I keep the BVI Beautiful?; or Climate Change.

Speaking at the ceremony, Secretary General of the BVI National Commission for UNESCO Dr. Allison Flax-Archer outlined the background of the competition. “In November 1999, UNESCO designated World Poetry Day to be held on March 21st each year. The organization recognized the important role of poetry in the Arts and in cultures throughout the world and over time wanted the day to promote the efforts of small publishers with regard to publishing poetry. The day also focused on promoting a return to the oral tradition of poetry recitals, as well as strengthening the association between poetry and other forms of expression, such as dance, music, and painting,” she said.

All Schools in the Virgin Islands were invited to participate in the competition and those who did were Agape Total Life Academy, Bregado Flax Educational Centre, Cedar International School, Claudia Creque Educational Centre, Ebenezer Thomas Primary and Joyce Samuel Primary.