by Kenara Woods

It was a clean sweep for the Girls’ High School, as Raianna Thomas came out on top of all the categories in this year’s Cable & Wireless Lions Club South, Secondary School National Public Speaking Finals, held last Tuesday at the Methodist Church Hall.

Six schools around mainland St. Vincent were represented at the finals.

The competition was divided into three segments: the main topic, “Are Vincentians living above their means?”; Student prepared topic and an impromptu speech.{{more}}

Raianna Thomas, the last competitor to take the podium, executed her topics with precision and passion as applause echoed through the packed hall.

She opined that the basic income we earn is often not enough to support our basic needs. “We should see the topic through multi dimensional eyes, any discussion that Vincentians are living above their means cannot be confined to a single minded approach.”

In her second speech, she drove home the fact that politics is dividing us as a people and that “mudslinging” doesn’t do our country any good. She spoke on the topic “Sunday Morning” for her impromptu presentation.

Second position went to Kimroy Walters of the St. Vincent Grammar School. Walters was tied with Raianna Thomas for the student prepared topic, where he spoke on the topic, “An international airport, to build or not to build.”

Felicia Baptiste of the Georgetown Secondary School wasn’t too far behind and placed third overall. She captivated her audience with graceful expressions and mannerisms.

Although the electricity failed for about thirty minutes in the middle of the impromptu speech segment, the faithful audience waited patiently for the continuation of the competition.

For her efforts, Thomas received a Dell Laptop computer from Cable & Wireless and the coveted Arthur Connell Challenge trophy. Kimroy Walters received a desktop computer and Felicia Baptiste received a top quality cellular phone both compliments Cable and Wireless.

Chairman, Lion Lennox Bowman noted the competition was of a high standard and that all the competitors were indeed winners and the future of St. Vincent and the Grenadines lies in safe hands.

The other participants were Joeverne Webb of the Bishop’s College Kingstown, Chevonne LaBorde of the Troumaca Ontario Secondary School and Catrena Hazell of the St. Joseph Convent Marriaqua.