Basseterre High School wins effective speaking competition

Delvyna Thompson (BHS) receiving the winner’s trophy from NAAP’s Interim President Dawn Mills.

Mrs Carlene Henry-Morton (Principal, BHS) receiving EC$500 for the winning school from LIME Representative, Sharisma Patrick.

ZIZ News…Oct. 10, 2012 — The National Association of Administrative Professionals (NAAP – St Kitts Chapter) held the 4th Annual Imelda Wilkin NAAP Effective Speaking Competition at ECCB’s Sir Cecil Jacobs Auditorium on Tuesday, 9th October as part of its 31st Anniversary celebrations. The competition brought together secondary schools with the objective to improve the public speaking skills of our high school students. After remarks by Minister of Education, the Honourable Nigel Carty, the competition got started.

The five schools which vied for first place were Basseterre High School, Gingerland Secondary School, Immaculate Conception Catholic School, Verchilds High School and Washington Archibald High School which won the competition three years in a row. This year the tides turned as Washington Archibald High School (Annick Bedford) was dethroned by the Basseterre High School (Delvyna Thompson) who won by a mere two-and-a-half points! First-timers Gingerland Secondary School (Neila Jones) placed third overall. As winners, the Basseterre High School received a cash prize of EC$500 compliments LIME.

The prepared speech was based on the topic “Traditional Education Has Failed and Students Should Now Be Trained in Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurial Skills”. The judges remarked that all the schools were well-prepared as evidenced by their excellent research. In the end the best speaker of the prepared speech segment was Delvyna Thompson of BHS with Annick Bedford of WAHS placing second. The order was reversed In the impromptu segment with Bedford (WAHS) placing first and Thompson (BHS) placing second. The best speaker overall was adjudged to be Delvyna Thompson (BHS), who for her efforts received an android smart phone compliments Digicel.

Mrs Rita Cable, Mr Kennedy Pemberton and Ms Jeanelle Kelly were eminently qualified to judge this year’s competition as they are all well-versed in language and public speaking skills. The competition was chaired by Ms Desi Brown (SKNYPA), and Davicia Browne (SPIRIT) acted as time-keeper.

NAAP would like to extend its sincerest gratitude to the teachers and students, officials and all the following who helped to make this event a great success: ECCB, Ashburry’s, Karibhana, O D Brisbane, LIME, Digicel, ECHMB, Warner’s One Stop, Carib Crafts & Graphics, Ileta Fulton, SKNYPA, SPIRIT, Ministry of Education, Jason Connor, the Media, and Nell Jacobs.