Organizers and sponsors of the Courts OECS Reading Competition at Tuesday’s launch of the second edition of the event used the opportunity to make students aware of the benefits of Reading.{{more}}

OECS Marketing Executive of Courts Alvin Hassel, here to promote the competition, spoke to the students, parents and teachers present at the conference room at Courts Headquarters in Kingstown about the importance of Reading.

He also took the opportunity to speak about the popularity of the tournament, even in its early stages.

“Reading helps children to broaden their minds and imagination”, Hassel said.

“We at Courts see this competition as encouraging the growth and advancement of our youth, and making a positive contribution towards the development of our children who, of course, are our leaders of tomorrow.”

“Last year’s OECS finalists were well received by the people and media in Dominica. We were made to feel welcome and at home.”

“It was also amazing that everyone in Dominica seemed to be aware of the competition.”

Hassel said that last year’s winner, Malikah Bain, of Grenada, was given a hero’s welcome when she returned home from the competition.

He said that with continued support, he believed that the competition can grow from strength to strength because of the company’s long term commitment to the tournament.

Senior Education Officer for Curriculum in the Ministry of Education, Aldia Gumbs-Dyer, declared that ‘Reading is the single most important skill necessary for a happy, productive and successful life.’

“The Ministry of Education recognizes that a child that is an excellent reader is a confident child; a child that has high esteem and is able to easily make the transition from learning to read to reading to learn….”

She congratulated Courts and the other sponsors for their collaboration with the ministry in making the competition possible.

The sponsors present at the launch also called on the students to make Reading a part of their daily routine, and reaffirmed their commitment to working along with the Ministry of Education as they seek to develop the future of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

SVG TV will feature the local winner on an Evening News telecast reading a segment of the news.

Jujube bookstore, along with Jamaica Bickles will supply the finalists with reading material, sponsors Multigraphics Ltd will provide trophies to the finalists and the Bank of Nova Scotia will offer savings accounts to the final nine.

The nine finalists will be selected from nine zones over the next few weeks, with the local finals slated for October 14.

They will read two passages – one an informational text and the other a short story and may be required to answer one question pertaining to the passages.

Education Officer for Literacy Hannah Browne said that the competition gives the students the opportunity to expose and sharpen their reading abilities and has created awareness among students on the importance of reading and doing it well.

Meanwhile, the first local winner of the tournament, grade six pupil at the St. Mary’s Roman Catholic School, Lyndsay Dowers, speaking at the launch, said that she had an enjoyable time representing this country.

“One thing I learned is that it is one thing to know how to read well; it is another thing to know how to read well in front of an audience.”

Her advice to this year’s competitors: “Even if you don’t reach very far in the competition – never stop reading.”

She placed third overall in the regional finals that were held in Dominica. (JJ)