JIS Commended For Staging Annual Heritage Competition

Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, Hon. Derrick Smith, has hailed the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) for hosting the annual Heritage Competition, which serves to highlight important aspects of Jamaica’s history and culture.

“I want to congratulate JIS for conceptualising this project,” he said at the sixth annual awards ceremony held today (December 15) at the Mona Visitors’ Lodge, University of the West Indies (UWI).

He said it also helps to create greater understanding of the country’s rich heritage among students, by encouraging them to conduct research to submit creative essays, posters and photographs.

Minister Smith congratulated the winners and participants and encouraged them to continue seeking opportunities to develop their skills.

Advisor to the Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Ali McNab, also applauded the initiative held under the theme ‘Jamaica’s Rich Sporting Heritage’.

“It allows for a different kind of creativity in expanding the thinking and expression of youth in writing, poster design and photography, with reference to our sporting heritage,” he said.

He encouraged the youngsters to always pursue excellence. “Keep researching, keep writing, keep designing, keep taking pictures, and just keep at it. Don’t let anybody tell you that you can’t,” Mr. McNab said.

The 2016 JIS Heritage Competition, which opened in September, invited students to submit winning essays, posters and photographs highlighting the country’s rich sporting heritage.

The essay category of the competition was geared at primary-school students aged nine to 12, who were required to write on the topic ‘Who is Your Favourite Jamaican Sportsman or Sportswoman and Why?’.

The poster category targeted secondary-level entrants, who submitted graphic designs and illustrations on the competition theme, while the photo category, which was being held for the first year, invited tertiary-level students to make submissions on the topic ‘I am a Sports Champion’.

Winner of the essay competition was nine-year-old Makoto Lilly of Mount St. Joseph’s Preparatory, who received a $2,500 gift certificate, $15,000 in cash, a printer, a weekend for four at FDR Resorts as well as a trophy.

Nikolai Newman of Sts. Peter and Paul Preparatory copped the second-place prize, while Giannie Willie of George Headley Primary was third.

Meanwhile, Patrick Howell of Ardenne Prep and Extension copped the top prize in the poster competition and received a gift certificate, $15,000 in cash, movie tickets, a day pass for four from Sandals Resorts, a Graphics Course from the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts and a trophy.

The photo competition was won by Lamar Salmon of The Mico University College, who received cash, a pass for two at Riu Ocho Rios, a course at the Caribbean Institute of Media and Communication (CARIMAC) and a trophy.

There were 150 entries from across 12 parishes.

Chief Executive Officer of the JIS, Donna-Marie Rowe, in her address, said the students displayed an acceptable degree of creativity and artistry in their submissions.

She congratulated the participants for overcoming setbacks throughout the year, such as threat of hurricane, to meet the competition deadline.

“We are proud to host the competition as part of the agency’s thrust to educate children about our national heritage. We are also encouraging them to participate in national discourse,” Mrs. Rowe said.

Sponsors for the event were the Caribbean Institute of Media and Communication, Creative Production and Training Centre/ MTI, Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, Flow Jamaica, Frame Art Jamaica, Franklyn D. Resort, Innovative Corporate Solutions Limited, Insurance Employees Cooperative Credit Union, Jamaica National Building Society, Kodak Digital Solutions, Lasco Food Distributors, National Baking Company Limited, Palace Amusement Company Limited, RIU Resorts, Royale Computers and Accessories, Sandals Resorts, Victoria Mutual Building Society, WB Trophies, and Wisynco.