by Sheron Garraway

Describing the honouring ceremony for top CXC students as “inspiring and uplifting” Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves pleaded with society not to just cast people away as failures.

The Prime Minister made particular reference to Casroy Cain, a Vincentian now in Taiwan learning Mandarin-Chinese in preparation for university studies. He related that the youngster, who had failed Common Entrance, was later admitted to the St. Joseph’s Convent Marriaqua (SJCM) where he completed school and wrote his CXC exams. {{more}}

Cain, who passed nine subjects with six distinctions, was one of the students honoured at the Thursday 24 March ceremony held at the Methodist Church Hall in Kingstown.

The hall, which was decorated to reflect the colours of the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC), also had entertainment from three schools. The Girls’ High School in song, a drum and pan duo from the Bishop’s College Kingstown and an opera piece from Andre’ Bocelli and Celine Dion performed by students of the St.Joseph’s Convent Kinsgtown.

A total of 21 students were honoured at that ceremony. The top male performer was Kamal Wood with 32 ‘A’ and 2 ‘B’ profiles while Mandella Campbell with 29 ‘A’ and 5 ‘B’ profiles was the top female performer.

Wood was also recognised as the top performer in two categories, the Humanities and Science. Denece Pompey was honoured in Business Studies while Sharlene Michael was top performer in Technical Vocational subjects. The last two hailed from the Girls’ High School.

The school with the best national results was the Girls High School with a 96% pass rate, comprising 25% grade 1’s, 48% grade 2’s and 27% grade 3’s.

The school producing the region’s most outstanding candidate in the 2004 exams was the St.Vincent Grammar School with Kamal Wood’s feat.

Meanwhile the Carapan Secondary School was recognized as the school with the most improved results in the 2004 exams. That institution registered a pass rate of 62% compared with their 2003 figure of 50%.

The other awardees at the ceremony were: Janeel Enville, Adelphi Secondary; Kevin Slater, Barrouallie Secondary; Ugo Davis, Bequia Community High; Roxine Ragguette, Bequia Seventh Day Adventist; Wesford Joseph, Bishops College Kingstown; Arisha Daniel, Georgetown Secondary; Hysha Providence, Emmanuel High Kingstown; Jenine Gardener, Emmanuel High Mesopotamia; Sasha Miller, Intermediate High School; Anya Bullock, Mountain View Adventist Academy; Maruska Ollivierre, St. Joseph’s Convent Kingstown; Angelo Ferdinand, St. Martins Secondary; Romesh King, Troumaca Secondary; Jolecia Bartholomew, Union Island Secondary; Adonel Stapleton, Petit Bordel Secondary; Kamara Lewis, North Union Secondary; Selvin Holder, Bethel High School and Kevin Lucas from the Carapan Secondary School.