MOAA Selects Nine Amerindian Heritage Essay Winners

The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs (MOAA) has chosen nine (9) winners for its 2010 Amerindian Heritage Essay Writing Contest in the various categories namely : 9-11 years old, 12-14 years old, and 15 years and above. The nine winners were adjudged best in their respective categories out of forty five (45) entries from primary and secondary schools in Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 10.

Leonardo Abraham of Comenius Primary School Queenstown topped the 9-11 years old category while Rosana Bisnauth of Queens College garnered the first place in the 12-14 age groups as Veena Ramdat of St. Joseph High School romped off with top honors in the 15 and above category. All three are from Georgetown.

The schools that participated include: Santa Rosa Secondary, Region 1, Bethany Primary, Region 2, Parika Salem Secondary, Region 3, Belladrum Secondary, Queens College, Bishops High, St. Joseph, St. Stanislaus High, Central High, Christ Church Secondary, Stella Marris Primary, Comenius Primary and Redeemer Primary, Region 4, Berbice High, Region 6, Paramakatoi Secondary, Region 8, and Mackenzie High and Wiruni Primary, Region 10.

The complete list of winners is found below:

A. 9 to 11 years old Category
Places Name of Winners Schools
1st Leonardo Abraham Comenius Primary School, Georgetown
2nd Arsel Jones Redeemer Primary School, Georgetown
3rd Jermaine Dillion Vryheid’s Lust Primary School, East Coast Demerara

B. 12 to 14 years old Category
Places Name of winners Schools
1st Rosanna Bisnauth Queens College, Georgetown
2nd Naricia Richards Bethany Mission, Essequibo Coast
3rd Giselle Fitzpatrick St. Joseph High School, Georgetown

C. 15 years old and above Category

Places Name of winners Schools
1st Veena Ramdat St. Joseph High School, Georgetown
2nd Raquel Persaud Bishops High school, Georgetown
3rd Adel Jones Queens College , Georgetown

An independent panel of 3 judges from the Ministry reviewed the essays with the topic “Promoting Sustainable Livelihood and Cultural Heritage while transforming our Village Economies”, the theme for Amerindian Heritage Month-September 2010. The essay competition is one of the many activities in the observance of the Annual Amerindian Heritage Month. The winners will be presented with prizes on September 29, 2010 at the Heritage Dinner and Prize Giving Ceremony to be held at the Georgetown Club, Camp Street, Georgetown.

In the 9-11 age group, the first place winner will receive $20,000, while the second place winner receives $15,000 and the third place winner, $10,000. In the 12-14 year-old category, the first place winner will take home $25,000, while the second and third place winners will get $20,000 and $15,000 respectively. For the 15 and above category, the top 3 winners will respectively bag $30,000, $25,000 and $20,000. All prizes will be sponsored by Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T).

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