LIME will reward each Public Speaking finalist financially

LIME, this country’s leading telecommunications full service provider,{{more}} is teaming up with the Ministry of Education and the Lion’s Club South for another year, as sponsors of the Secondary Schools Public Speaking competition.

This year marks 24 years of sponsorship from LIME/Cable and Wireless of this prestigious event. Cable and Wireless sponsored the original debating competition during the period 1978 to 1995 when the Jaycees were organizers of the event.

Delivering remarks at the opening ceremony at the St Joseph’s Convent Kingstown on Tuesday, Marketing and Corporate Communications Lead Nikala Williams restated LIME’s commitment to educational development and in particular to the long term sponsorship of Schools Public Speaking.

Williams said “LIME Lions Club Secondary Schools Public Speaking competition has become an important event on our calendar. We recognize the significant role this event plays in preparing our students to embrace the challenges of the future. We continue to invest heavily in education and the youth through our sponsorship of Internet Summer School, CXC/CSEC awards and the LIME scholarship program where the company offers four scholarships every year. Over the last 24 years we have spent over $500,000 in sponsoring this event. This year each student reaching the finals will be rewarded financially and this reward will be built into our scholarship program where the students have an option to use the funds towards furthering their education in the next school year. The teachers who prepared these students will receive cash prizes as extra incentives. Students of the schools who make it to the finals will also be given free transportation on finals night to support their champion.”

Lions Club South representative Ron Christopher complimented LIME for staying the course, even in these tough economic times, and commented “the topics for this year’s debate are current and speak to the issues that affect us today. LIME has raised the stakes and each finalist will be well rewarded.

I am urging all students to do their research thoroughly, since each finalist stands to win cash prizes that will go towards advancing their education.”

Twenty-one secondary schools, divided into four zones, are competing in four preliminary rounds for six final places. In the now completed preliminary rounds the schools debated topics as follows:

ZONE ONE took place at the St Joseph Convent Kingstown and the students debated the topic: The behavioural practice of many Vincentians is unbecoming for a top rated destination.

ZONE TWO was held at the West St George Secondary School and the topic for debate was: The abolition of overtime pay is necessary to improve the productivity and competitiveness of our country.

ZONE THREE saw the schools from the Windward side of the island and at the West St George Secondary School. The topic debated was: The loss of spiritual values and the worship of money and material possessions are contributing factors to the level of criminality in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

ZONE FOUR’s venue was the Barrouallie Secondary School and the topic: The term “Health and Wellness” is quickly becoming a cliché in StVincent and the Grenadines

The finals will form part of the celebrations for the 33rd anniversary of Independence on October 25 at the Methodist Church Hall in Kingstown.