Winner Of JIS Heritage Competition Thrilled
By: February 1, 2021 ,The Full Story
Winning the Photography Category of the Jamaica information Service (JIS) 2020 Heritage Competition, was very thrilling for Olivia Gordon-Davis, who is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Language and Literature at The Mico University College, in Kingston.
“I have never won a trophy in my life. With this competition, I won my first trophy and I won my first public competition. It is just a tremendous feeling,” she tells JIS News.
In fact, Mrs. Gordon-Davis, who entered the competition for the first time last year, won over her older siblings, Yone Gordon, who was last year’s winner, and Ishmore Gordon. They copped the second and third places, respectively.
Mrs. Gordon-Davis, who is the last of nine siblings, reveals that her sister was photographed in the winning entry.
She notes that all the siblings prepared their entries independently, and that her brothers are excited at her success.
“They were very excited. Throughout our lives we have been competitive siblings,” Mrs. Gordon-Davis says.
She encourages other young persons to use their creative talents to contribute to the public discourse on important national issues.
“It is a great platform for us as youth. I believe that young persons like myself can advocate for the things that we as adults should be advocating for. I think this can be effective and when older persons see us the younger ones advocating on important matters, it will force persons to take a closer look at these issues,” she says.
As the first place winner, Mrs. Gordon-Davis received $20,000 cash, a plaque and gift basket from the JIS; a free undergraduate course from the Caribbean School of Media and Communication (CARIMAC), as well as a smart phone and credit from Digicel Jamaica.
The awards ceremony was held virtually on December 23, under the theme: ‘I Promise to Stand Up For Justice, Brotherhood and Peace’.
The annual competition, which celebrated its 10th anniversary last year, is divided into three components – Essay, Poster and Photography – and targets students at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels.
Winners in the other categories of the competition were: Amani Shrouder from Morgan’s Pass Primary School, in Clarendon (Essay), and Akishma Payne from Hampton School, in St. Elizabeth (Poster).
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Amani, who aspires to become a lawyer in the future, says he learnt a lot from his participation in the competition.
“It helped me to learn more about the National Heroes, especially Marcus Mosiah Garvey. The more you learn about your culture, the more you are able to spread the news that Jamaica is a great place,” he says.
Amani, who based his essay on the achievements of the National Hero, says he admires the “brotherhood” that Mr. Garvey inspired among members of the black community.
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For her part, Akishma says the competition is important “because we get a better understanding of what our ancestors fought for and so, we are more appreciative and will be able to help younger generations to appreciate these values and help build the country to be a better place.”
Sponsors of the JIS Heritage Competition 2020 included: Boone Hall Oasis; Creative Production and Training Centre (CPTC)/Media Training Institute; Frame Art Jamaica; Franklyn D. Resort; Grace Foods; Innovative Corporate Solutions; Jamaica News Network (JNN); Lasco Jamaica Limited; LOVE FM; National Baking Company Limited; Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica (PBCJ) and WB Trophies Limited.