Ten (10) lucky teens from the various high schools throughout the islands, will get a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view the sights and sounds of the mother country Britain.
Ten top teenage TCI essay writers are off on a ten day trip of a lifetime to the UK after winning the Governor’s annual essay writing competition it was announced today, Tuesday, 3 Jan 2012.
Six students from Providenciales, three from Grand Turk and one from North Caicos were chosen by the judges from 19 entries received from across the TCI.
They each had to write on the topic of: “A 21st Century relationship between the UK and the TCI. Discuss.”
Governors spokesperson, Neil Smith, said in a press release that the competition was developed as a means of satisfying the appetite of the TCI’s young people to find out more about the UK and how the countries can further benefit each other by promoting serious discussion among secondary and tertiary level students about the nature of the modern relationship between the UK and the TCI.
The 10 winners are:-
* Rashunda Campbell of the TCI Community College, Grand Turk Campus and
* Phildreka Mayham of the TCI Community College, Providenciales Campus
* Samuel Cantos of the British West Indies Collegiate, Providenciales
* Candre Skippings of the HJ Robinson High School, Grand Turk
* Leyshan Grant of the Champions for Christ International School of
Excellence, Providenciales
* Kevin Downer of the TCIPS Comprehensive High School, Providenciales
* Lemelko Missick of the Raymond Gardiner High School, North Caicos
* Stephen U-lysse of Clement Howell High School, Providenciales
* Chal-si-anna Missick of the Maranatha High School, Providenciales and
* Samell Harvey of the Wesleyan Methodist High School, Providenciales
Explaining the criteria for the Governor’s annual essay-writing-competition, Mr. Smith said that each contestant had to compose an original, un-published essay of between 1,000-1,500 words. It was open to all students 16-19 years of age, who are registered in a secondary or tertiary level institution in the TCI. Points were awarded for understanding of the topic, originality of the author’s ideas, coherence of the case made and clarity of style.
The winners will travel as a group on a 10-day visit to the UK in February of this year (2012), and will be involved in a number of activities, arrangements for which are now being finalized. These include:-
*Sightseeing in London, including a bus tour of the London sights such as Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, the Metropolitan Police Museum, the London Eye, the Tower of London and the famous London Parks; * Seeing UK Government ministries in action – meeting Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development (DFID) Ministers; other Ministers in the Overseas Territories Department, the Cabinet Office and No. 10 Downing Street;
* Visiting both the House of Commons and House of Lords – the Houses, meeting members of the Foreign affairs Committee, and receiving a presentation from the British Youth Council on the UK Youth Parliament * Spending a day in a London school and possibly week ending with British families.
His Excellency the Governor Ric Todd, said QUOTE:- “All of the essays were extremely interesting, with some very supportive of the existing relationship between TCI and the UK; others much more ready to move towards independence for the territory.
“What was encouraging was the range of ideas and suggestions on offer – it bodes very well for the future of democracy here that a wide range of ideas and beliefs can co-exist. Well done to everyone who entered and I hope that you have a terrific trip.”
