Eastern Caribbean Central Bank Launches 2013 OECS Essay Competition

ZIZ News…Oct 26, 2012 — Students participating in the 2013 OECS Essay Competition, hosted and sponsored by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) will focus on opportunities for entrepreneurship for school leavers; agriculture and its contribution to the economies of the OECS countries; and the benefits of the OECS Economic Union.

The OECS Essay Competition is designed to encourage critical thinking among the region’s students and to motivate their engagement in discussions on issues that impact the development of the OECS countries. The topics for the 2013 competition are:

1. In today’s economic climate, many school leavers are faced with high unemployment rates within the OECS countries. What can the youth do to turn this situation into opportunities for entrepreneurship?

2. Agriculture is a viable booster for OECS economies. Discuss.

3. What strategies can OECS countries employ to ensure that young people become better acquainted with the benefits of the OECS Economic Union?

The competition is open to students aged 14 – 19 throughout the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU). The entries are judged in two categories: ages 14 to 16 and ages 17 to 19. The essays must be 750 to 1000 words and must be typewritten. They will be assessed for content, soundness of points, logical development, knowledge of the subject, command of language and presentation.

Cash prizes amounting to EC$10,000 will be awarded to the first, second and third place winners in each category, while grants amounting to EC$6,000 will be awarded to their respective schools. The school with the most entries in the top 10 will also receive a cash award of EC$500.

Since the inception of the competition in 1996, the ECCB has awarded grants amounting to EC$223,000.00 to students and their respective schools.

The essays for the 2013 OECS Essay Competition must be submitted to the ECCB Headquarters or the Bank’s Agency Office in the respective member countries, no later than 29 March 2013.