St Lucian pupil is the 2018 Courts OECS Reading Champion

Pearl Cornibert, who represented St Lucia, is the winner of the 2018 Courts OECS Reading Champion.

The primary school pupil won from a field of five other competitors from around the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) who were competing for the coveted title of Courts OECS Reading Competition Champion and a corresponding cash prize of $5000 for themselves and $5000 in cash for his/her school.

The ninth annual “Courts OECS Schools Reading Competition Finals were hosted by Courts in collaboration with the St Lucia Ministry of Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development on May 24 at the Harbour Club in St Lucia.

The finalists were Richelle Wilson – Antigua and Barbuda, Kenilee Smithee Baron – Dominica, Ayo Taylor – Grenada, Nazia Byron – St. Kitts and Nevis, Pearl Cornibert – St Lucia, and Jonniel Stowe – St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The students were given two passages; the same narrative piece in the first segment and a past news piece from an island other than their own. The competition was regarded as highly competitive and successful by chief judge Angela Mariatte, who praised Courts for their commitment to the education through literacy across the OECS.

In the end, Pearl Cornibert, St Lucia’s representative a student of the Eucharist Lewis Seventh Day Adventist School was crowned Courts OECS Schools Reading Champion. First runner-up Richelle Wilson of Antigua and Barbuda walked away with $3000 in cash and in third place Kenilee Smithee Baron of Dominica walked away with $2000 in cash. All other participants received $1,000 each plus prizes from other corporate sponsors.

“Courts is committed to the development of the countries in which we operate by engaging the youth through educational initiatives like the schools reading competition,” stated Courts OECS Managing Director Vincent Gordon.

The company looks forward to hosting the 10th annual OECS finals in St Lucia at the end of 2018.