Students from 4 Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) member countries have captured the top positions in the 2023 ECCB/RSS-ARU Creative Youth Songwriting Competition.
The ECCB collaborated with the Regional Security System Asset Recovery Unit (RSS-ARU) to launch the Creative Youth Competition (CYC) in September 2018. The CYC is open to students of the 8 ECCB member countries ages 13 to 19.
The 2023 competition focused on songwriting and required students to compose and produce songs on one of 3 topics:
- Social Media influencing our Behaviour
- Re-arrange to address Climate Change
- Making Food Security our Priority
In the 13–16 age category, Hannah Archibald, Lonya Bullock and Keosha Burke of the St Joseph’s Convent in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines captured the first place, with Samuel Roberts of the Grenada Seventh Day Adventist Comprehensive School in second place. These winners composed their songs on the topic of Social Media. Faith Gibson of the Antigua Girls High School placed third with her composition on Climate change.
Tawafa Pierre of the T A Marryshow Community College in Grenada cupped the first place in the 17–19 age category, followed by Renee Smith of the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College in Saint Lucia in second place and Denisha Mitchell of the T A Marryshow Community College, placing third. All winners in this category composed their songs on the topic Social Media Influencing our Behaviour.
Seasoned artistes from ECCB member countries had the task of selecting the top entries in the 2 categories. The judges for the 13–16 category were: Kirk Anderson of Antigua and Barbuda, Marlon Marie of the Commonwealth of Dominica, Elwyn Mc Quilkin of Grenada and Kibbianne Willett of Saint Christopher (St Kitts) and Nevis. The judges for the 17–19 category were Hance John of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Bernard Wattley of Anguilla and Herman Francis of Montserrat. According to the judges, the task was not an easy charge because all students demonstrated exceptional talent.
Governor of the ECCB Timothy NJ Antoine gave high praises and commendations to all the participants and winners, noting that the performing arts is an avenue for young people to add their voices to the issues that confront them within the region.
Programme Co-ordinator for the RSS-ARU Debra Wilkinson said that programmes such as the CYC encourage youth to channel their energies into positive and creative directions and provide springboards for entrepreneurial development.
Winners of the Creative Youth Competition, along with their schools and mentor teachers will receive monetary prizes at the official prizegiving ceremony scheduled for later this year.
For more information on the results of the Competition and to listen to the winning entries, visit the ECCB Facebook page and YouTube channel.
ECCB
Great initiative to harness the talents of out young people. Should also be done on the local level. Congratulations to the winners……proud of my fellow Grenadians!!