Shelisia Glasford, a student at the Charlestown Secondary School in Nevis, won the $5,000 grand prize in the ECCB’s 2009 OECS Essay Competition. Shaquille Lewis, also of the Charlestown Secondary School, won $2,500 as the second place winner, and Amanda Greene of the Washington Archibald High School in St Kitts, was awarded $2,000 for third place.

This year, students were asked to focus their essays on the need to develop and implement a regional energy policy, and ensuring food security through a regional agricultural policy that delivers a productive agricultural sector.

Shelisia’s essay, titled, “ECCU Governments Must Ensure Food Security through an Explicit Regional Agricultural Policy that Delivers a Productive Agricultural Sector” focused on partnerships with private sector and international organisations, education and training, information and communication technology, and risk management strategies; linking these issues to sustain growth for small island states.

Shaquille’s essay was titled, “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”. Among the issues identified, he proposed that “with limited resources and lack of skills, the ECCU must establish important linkages with other nations which have already become energy self-sufficient …..The establishment of such partnerships would assist the transition from a fossil fuel economy to a clean energy economy.”

Amanda’s essay linked the issue of a regional oil policy to energy security and environmental protection and covered areas such as conservation, legislation, energy security and alternative energy sources.

The schools associated with the winners were awarded development grants ranging from $2,000 to $1,000. The Antigua Girls High School of Antigua and Barbuda also received an award for submitting the most entries.

The OECS Essay Competition is an annual event organised by the ECCB as part of its Community Outreach Programme. The Management and Staff of the ECCB congratulate the winning students and their schools.

2009 OECS Essay Competition Winners: Sheilisa Glasford (left), Shaquille Lewis (right) with Mr Elliot, Principle of Charlestown Secondary School (middle)

The 2010 OECS Essay Competition For ECCB Area Students 14 - 19 years

WINNING ESSAYS
1st Place Winner: Shelisa_Glasford
2nd Place Winner: Shaquille Lewis