The audience at the event
(PRESS RELEASE) — The Vieux Fort North Parliamentary Office held another successful Nobel Laureate Week activity on Saturday, January 26.
Students of all four primary schools in the constituency participated in the first ever Schools’ Poetry Contest.
Students were challenged to write poems about their communities in Vieux Fort North and were awarded monetary prizes along with novels and history books.
Dr. Anderson Reynolds, award-winning author and publisher. delivered a lecture on the publishing process to encourage local writers to make their creative work public. Additionally, Mr. Peter “Pel” Lansiquot delivered an interesting perspective on the relevance of Sir Arthur’s work to communities like Vieux Fort North.
Book prizes were donated by authors Dr. Jolien Harmsen, Mr. Modeste Downes and Dr. Anderson Reynolds.
The overall winner of the competition was Makayle Joseph of the Belle Vue Combined School, followed by Jardin Ismeal of the Vigee Primary School, and Tammie Richard of the Belle Vue Combined School.
The best poets from the Grace and Pierrot Combined Schools were Karson Isidore and Rohan Charles.
Makayle Joseph of the Belle Vue Combined School collects his winning prize.
A compilation of poems will be published from all the students who participated in the poetry contest.
Hon. Moses Jn. Baptiste, parliamentary representative of Vieux Fort North, indicated that the poetry competition is one of several activities which form part of the Vieux Fort North Parliamentary Office Arts programme. This programme started in 2008, along with the Excellence Awards programme, and its aim is to initiate and support programmes in the arts for the creative people of Vieux Fort North.
Some of the successful activities of this programme include: the Vieux Fort North Drumming Festival which was held at Belle Vue, Night of Traditional Games at Pierrot and Grace, Traditional Storytelling Night at Pierrot, support to the Belle Vue La Rose Group, Youth Talent Expose at Belle Vue, and discussions by Mr. Edward Bellas on the family linkages within our communities and Saint Lucia.
Hon. Moses Jn. Baptiste promises to continue the activities with more activities slated for 2019. The Vieux Fort North Drumming Festival, a publication, Konte’ and Traditional Storytelling, school tours, art and craft exhibition and Youth Expose are all part of the plans for 2019.
The MP for Vieux Fort North indicates that the arts must be an integral part of the development planning in all communities, as activities in the arts help to provide the cohesion which is necessary for stability and cooperation within communities.
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