ECCB announces 2009 OECS essay competition

The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank has announced the topic for its 2009 Essay Competition. Participants will address the following topics: ECCU governments need to develop and implement, as a matter of urgency, a regional energy policy, which would over time reduce the dependence of the regional economies on oil; ECCU governments must ensure food security through an explicit regional agricultural policy that delivers a productive agricultural sector.{{more}}

Students 14-19 years from the eight ECCB member territories are invited to compete for the top honours in the Competition. A total of EC$15,000 in prizes and development grants will be awarded to the top three students and their respective schools.

The entries are to be submitted to the ECCB Headquarters in St. Kitts or the Bank’s Agency Office in the member countries by Friday, 29 May 2009. Fliers detailing the topic and the terms of the competition have been distributed to the regional secondary schools and colleges.

The 2008 Competition saw Kalea Clarke of Charlestown Secondary School, St. Kitts and Nevis emerging first place. Tonya Pompey and Jasmine Gould-Hull, both of St. Vincent Girls’ High School, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, captured the second and third places respectively.

The annual essay competition, which encourages discourse on social and economic issues affecting the citizens of the ECCB member countries, is part of the Central Bank’s Community Outreach Programme.