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| Zera Yaicob A. Yaicob of The Rock Christian School, receiving his prize for placing first in the nine to 11 age group from Chief Executive Officer of Barbados Port Inc., David Jean-Marie. (C. Pitt/BGIS) |
Primary schools stole the limelight in the just concluded Bridgetown Port’s 50th Anniversary Schools’ Essay Competition on the topic: How The Bridgetown Port Has Contributed To The Development of Barbados.
A total of 75 essays were submitted, with 72 per cent coming from primary school students. This reflects a total of 17 primary schools participating as compared with six secondary schools.
Today, the work of all those students who participated in the competition, which was launched on June 22 last year, was described as "outstanding" by officials of the Ministry of International Transport and Management of the Barbados Port Inc. during a prize-giving ceremony at Hilton Barbados today.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of International Business and International Transport, Gabrielle Springer, said the competition enabled the Barbados Port Inc. to continue its strong relationship with the island’s primary and secondary schools through its Educational Outreach Programme.
Ms. Springer explained that the programme involved employees of the Port making presentations at schools, and covering topics such as Cruise Tourism, Port Marketing, the Cargo Industry, Preparing for the World of Work and Transitioning from the Classroom to the Boardroom.
She added that the main focus of the programme facilitated tours of the Port to give students the opportunity to learn about the activities of cargo operations and the cruise industry.
The Permanent Secretary further noted that over 28,000 students over 14 years went on educational tours through the programme to gain a better understanding of the responsibility involved in the daily operation of the Bridgetown Port.
"It is through these tours that many of the entrants who submitted essays gained their information. This opportunity allowed them to make their own assessment of the impact that the Port and its operations make on the lives of Barbadians over the years, and they included their perspectives in their essays," she said.
Ms. Springer said that with the success gained through the Educational Outreach Programme, the Port was proposing to augment it with the addition of a mentorship component.
That plan will see Port personnel being selected and trained to assist with students to give assistance, support and encouragement for them to achieve their dreams.
Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Port Inc., David Jean-Marie, said he never anticipated the level of commitment that resulted, and commended parents and children for their in-depth research of the topic.
Chairman of the 50th Anniversary Schools’ Essay Competition committee, Freida Nicholls said the essays were well written, creative, and showed thought and that the children were able to link the work being done at the Port to the economic impact it could have on Barbados.
She added that the level of competition was so high that the committee included a Special Mention for students in the nine to 11 year-old age group for the outstanding work they did.
Those up for special mention were Theron Durrant and Chonte Jordan, both of Westbury Primary, and Kiros Alleyne of the West Terrace Primary School.
In the 9-11 age group, Zera Yaicob A. Yaicob of The Rock Christian School captured first prize, while second place went to Ammarah Patel of the Al-Falah School and third prize to Shaina Cumberbatch of the St. James Primary School.
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| Taahir Bulbulia of the Christ Church Foundation School, winner in the 11 to 13 age group, receiving his prize from Chairman of Barbados Port Inc., David Harding. (C. Pitt/BGIS)?? |
Taahir Bulbulia of the Christ Church Foundation School copped first prize in the 11 to 13 age group, while Taa-riq Mahmood of the Al-Falah School and Atara Padmore of Queen’s College placed second and third respectively.
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| Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of International Transport and International Business, Gabrielle Springer, presenting Fahima Momla of Queen’s College with her prize. (C. Pitt/BGIS) |
First prize in the 14 to 16 age category went to Fahima Momla of Queen’s College, while Randicia Kellman of Harrison College and Leaundre Knight of Combermere School, captured second and third place respectively.
Prizes included an Apple iPad for first place winners, a laptop computer for second place winners and a $600 City of Bridgetown Credit Union savings account for those placing third.
Students of employees at the Port already benefit from a Port Experience Summer Camp where they are exposed to the six core areas of the Port – Cargo destinations, Port operations, the cruise industry, export, the environment and national security.