Caricom- Integrated Quiz Championship launched

Secondary School students throughout the island will soon have the chance to showcase their knowledge of the Bible and their awareness of the Caribbean region.{{more}}

The national leg of a CARICOM-integrated quiz championship – part of the Heroes Gallery Project – was launched on Monday, September 15th, at the Upper Room Ministries.

Targeting students in Forms 1 – 3, the project is hosted by the Bible Society of the Eastern Caribbean and seeks to promote Bible-based principles and increase awareness of the region among Caribbean students. Speaking to SEARCHLIGHT, National Coordinator Kenyatta Lewis shared that, to date, 19 Secondary Schools have confirmed their participation in the project. The Heroes Gallery Project has two main components – a quiz competition and a creative expressions aspect.

Addressing the mainly student audience, Unity Labour Party Senator Saboto Caesar stressed the importance of getting an education as well as recognizing the centrality of Christ in their lives. “It’s only what you do for Christ that lasts!” he declared. Caesar further reminded the students that they are the future of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. “There is a need for an exceptional cadre of multi-talented and multi-faceted Vincentian youth,” he affirmed.

Ministry of Education representative Cecil Charles expressed that his Ministry is in full support of this project because it believes in the total development of students. Charles encouraged the participants to: “Work hard. Give it your best!”

Kenyatta Lewis and Regional Director Owen Williams also gave remarks. They both extolled the benefits of the competition and gave further insight into the different components of the project.

There will be 5 preliminary zonal rounds, with the winners of each round competing in the national Finals on October 5th, 2008. The overall winner will represent SVG at the regional semi-finals to be held in Dominica on October 21st, and the finals will take place in Barbados on November 6th.

Prizes to be won at the national Finals include electronic equipment, scholarships (including one for university), book grants, savings accounts, a multimedia projector for the winning school and the Prime Minister’s trophies.

The participating countries are St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, Dominica, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, St. Lucia, British Virgin Islands, U.S Virgin Islands, Montserrat and Trinidad & Tobago. (JSV)