Secretary General for the BVI National Commission for UNESCO, Dr. Allison Flax-Archer has said that the just concluded Poetry Week was a success.

Dr. Flax-Archer said that the week was filled with activities ranging from school visits to the annual poetry competition which concluded with a poetry reading.

“World Poetry Day is held annually on March 21 but we have always extended the celebration beyond the day to stress the importance of poetry and poets,” the Secretary General said, adding, “Poetry is a beautiful way to express ones feelings in the artist’s unique rhythm and style. Poetry like any other art is one of the pillars of humanity.”

Poets across the Territory observed the week by participating in poetry reading events at schools including, First Impressions, Pelican Gate, St. George’s Primary, Cedar International, Alexandrina Maduro Primary and Enid Scatliffe Pre-Primary.

Winners of the Poetry Competition were announced on Wednesday, March 24 at the Poetry Reading event where local poets including Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr. the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley shared their own pieces.

The following are the winners for the 2021 Poetry Competition and the title of their poems.

ADULTS

1st place - Kedrick Malone, Villages of Heroes
2nd place - Linette Rabsatt

Perspectives of Our Past: The Unsung Heroes

3rd place - Nicklous Kanhai, The Unmentioned

5-7 CATEGORY

1st Place - Tianna Olivia DaSilva, Because You Care

8-10 CATEGORY

1st Place - Aliana Smith, The Legacy of Unsung Heroes

11-13 CATEGORY

1st Place - Trinity Lettsome, Hidden Gems
2nd Place - Aliyah Smith

14-17 CATEGORY

1st Place Anthony Cheltenham Jr., Unsung Heroes – Sanitation

The competition was held under the theme, “Perspectives of Our Past: The Unsung Heroes”.

Honourable Wheatley extended congratulations to the winners and Dr. Flax-Archer for coordinating another successful event.

The Poetry Reading activity along with photos from the week is available to view on the Government’s Facebook page @BVIGovernment or by clicking the link https://facebook.com/BVIGovernment/videos/549825055986311/

The competition was first adopted by UNESCO on March 21 as World Poetry Day during its 30th General Conference in Paris in 1999. The BVI National Commission observes the day annually by highlighting the importance of poetry.