PRESS RELEASE – Soufriere Primary School Student, Miss Keyshawn Alphonse, has won the Eighth Annual Courts OECS Reading Competition for 2016.

The competition which was held on November 16th 2016 in Saint Kitts and Nevis saw national champions from Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines competing for an additional $5000 cash for themselves and $5000 cash for their school.

The National Courts OECS Reading Competition Finalists were: Justine Jarvis – Antigua and Barbuda, Shaydan Laville – Dominica, Allyssa Goddard – Grenada, Devshi Saxena – St Kitts and Nevis, Keyshawm Alphonse – St Lucia and Kaylee Robertson – St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Each student was given the same narrative to read and a different Country news piece at the competition. Although all the National finalists’ read remarkably well, it was Miss Keyshawn Alphonse from St. Lucia, with her impeccable reading abilities that captured the coveted title of “Courts OECS Reading Champion 2016” and $5000 cash for herself and her school respectively.

Walking away with the Second Runner Up trophy and $3000 cash was Antigua and Barbuda’s representative Miss Justine Jarvis… Ms Kaylee Robertson from St Vincent and the Grenadines placed third and walked away with $2000 cash. All other participants received $1000 cash as a token of appreciation for their participation. Every child, who participated at the OECS Reading finals will receive a brand new laptop complements Courts..

The ninth annual Courts OECS Reading Competition finals will be held in St. Lucia next year, where our reigning champion, Miss Keyshawn Alphonse lives. Eight and nine year olds from across the OECS are encouraged to participate in the preliminary rounds of the competition for a chance at being crowned the “Courts OECS Reading Champion 2017.”

The Management and Staff of Courts OECS would like to thank the Ministries of Education across the OECS, Ministry Officials, Parents, Teachers and Schools and partners who have supported this initiative from inception. Without you, this competition would not have been successful.

To our prospective finalists – see you in St. Lucia Next Year!