On Thursday, 21st April, 2022; Honourable Keisal Peters, Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade; announced the winners of the Nationwide Literary Arts Competition to commemorate World Creativity and Innovation Day.

The Nationwide Literary Arts Competition provided an opportunity for Vincentians to reflect on, and document experiences relating to the 2021 volcanic eruptions of the La Soufrière volcano. In the competition, there were 202 submissions on the theme “Charting Resilience, Recording Recovery”, in four categories: Short Story, Essay, Narrative Poetry, and Pictorial Narrative.

In the Short Story category, in the Envoys age group (9-13 years):

1^st place – Leah Nanton, St. Vincent Girls’ High School
2^nd place – Joshua Dennie, Kingstown Preparatory School
3^rd place – Adian Straker, Buccament Government School

In the Short Story category, in the Ambassadors age group (14–18 years):

1^st place – Ashlyn Francis, St. Vincent Girls’ High School
2^nd place – Keonna Simon, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College
3^rd place – Jadiah Sampson and Sacarria Francis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College

In the Short Story category, in the Diplomats age group (19+ years):

1^st place – Janielle Browne
2^nd place – Gian Paul-Baker, Zonnia Shallow, Denise Westfield, and Raheem Hall

In the Essay category, in the Envoys age group (9-13 years):

1^st place – Isabella Sam, St. Vincent Girls’ High School
2^nd place – Tyrique Gaymes, Thomas Saunders Secondary School
3^rd place – Kathryn Cumberbatch, St. Vincent Girls’ High School

In the Essay category, in the Ambassadors age group (14–18 years):

1^st place – Jadiah Sampson, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College
2^nd place – Arianna Jardine, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College
3^rd place – Diajon Gibbs, St. Martin’s Secondary School

In the Essay category, In the Diplomats age group (19+ years):

1^st place – Melanie Grant
2^nd place – Daree Myers
3^rd place – Phillia Alexander

In the Narrative Poetry category, in the Envoys age group (9-13 years):

1^st place – Rylii Tyler Matthias, St. Vincent Girls’ High School
2^nd place – Nahra Stowe, St. Vincent Girls’ High School
3^rd place – Olivia Prescott, St. Vincent Girls’ High School

In the Narrative Poetry category, in the Ambassadors age group (14–18 years):

1^st place – Ashlyn Francis, St. Vincent Girls’ High School
2^nd place – Jadiah Sampson, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College
3^rd place – Kiana Bailey, St. Vincent Girls’ High School

In the Narrative Poetry category, in the Diplomats age group (19+ years):

1^st place – NC Marks
2^nd place – Shernell Hadaway
3^rd place – La Tonya Nichols and Marlon Joseph

In the Pictorial Narrative category, in the Envoys age group (9-13 years):

1^st place – Ennabelle McMaster, Windsor Primary School
2^nd place – Alyssa Young, St. Vincent Girls’ High School
3^rd place – Vaunice John, Sugar Mill Academy

In the Pictorial Narrative category, In the Ambassadors age group (14–18 years):

1^st place – Genevieve McMaster, St. Vincent Girls’ High School
2^nd place – Bradley Alexander, St. Vincent Grammar School
3^rd place – Ceronique Mitchell, St. Vincent Girls’ High School

In the Pictorial Narrative category, in the Diplomats age group (19+ years):

1^st place – Steven Veira
2^nd place – Maxanne Rock and Shanique Stewart

The Awards and Prize-Giving ceremony will be held on May 23rd, 2022; at the Methodist Church Hall in Kingstown.