The Barbados Association of Retired Persons held the prizewinners’ ceremony for its second Annual Schools’ Essay Competition at the BARP Head Office in Collymore Rock.

In welcoming those present, BARP President Ernest Batson spoke of how impressed he was by the range of subjects addressed by the children aged 11-16 who were required to submit essays entitled “Challenges Facing the Elderly”.  “It was heartening to discover that children of that age are so aware of problems like elder abuse, loneliness and abandonment,” he said, adding that it augurs well for the future if the present generation of young people are prepared to face up to these problems and help deal with them.

The distinguished panel of speakers included Mr. Laurie King, Chief Education Officer (Ag) who commended BARP on its initiative to encourage schoolchildren to explore issues which affected older persons in Barbados, and looked forward to even more schools participating in the competition next year. Chief Competition Judge Dame Patricia Symmonds congratulated the entrants from schools across the island on the high quality of their submissions. 

First Prize winner in the 11-13 age group was Dominique Toppin of Coleridge & Parry School who received $500, a personal and perpetual shield, as did First Prize Winner in the 14-16 age group, Lona Maria Whitney of The St. Michael School.  Prizes were presented by Mrs. Barbara Parris, Acting Principal of Erdiston College.