The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) and the Regional Security System Asset Recovery Unit (RSS-ARU) will host the 2022 Creative Youth Competition with a focus on poetry.

The overall concept of the ECCB/RSS-ARU Creative Youth Competition is designed to allow students aged 13-19 in secondary schools and community colleges in the eight ECCB member countries, to demonstrate their creativity, critical thinking skills and talents through various genres including essay writing, poetry, song writing and art.

Students who wish to participate in the 2022 poetry competition will be required to produce their very own poem on one of the following topics:

1. The Entrepreneur

2. Skills Equal Money

3. My Vision for My Caribbean Home

The organisers said in a release that the topics were selected in collaboration with secondary school teachers from the ECCB member countries and the RSS-ARU, cosponsors of the competition.

The entries will be judged in two categories: ages 13-16, and 17-19, and will be assessed on: focus on the selected topics; creativity; imagery; and spelling and punctuation.

Cash prizes, tokens and trophies amounting to $26,000.00 will be awarded to the top three winners, their respective schools, and teachers who mentor the students in the preparation of their submissions.

Further information on the competition may be obtained at: www.eccb-centralbank.org and Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/ECCB Connects/.