Winners of the, ‘A Day with the Governor’ climate change competition have been announced.

Alexa Hodge and Hanan Bazaz, Elmore Stoutt High School; Ashleigh Hearne, Cedar International and Sarah Ramdatt, St. Georges Secondary School, have been selected as the three winning entries of the ‘A Day with the Governor’ competition.

The climate change competition was launched October 2021 and invited students in the Virgin Islands, aged 12-17, to submit a 90-second video on climate change on the following topics: Why is Tackling Climate Change Important for the VI?; What Can I do to Stop Climate Change?; and What are the Solutions to Climate Change?.

Thirty-one entries in total were received and three winners were selected based on their video’s creativity as well as their understanding of climate change, its causes, potential impacts and suggestions on how Virgin Islands (VI) can play its part.

The students’ prize will be to spend a day with His Excellency, Governor John Rankin and Honourable Vincent Wheatley, Minister of Natural Resources and Labour, visiting local green initiatives. This will include the solar hub at Leonora Delville Primary and a mangrove project at H. Lavity Stoutt Community College. There will also be an opportunity for the winners to share their views and suggestions on how the VI can build its green credentials in the future.

His Excellency, Governor John Rankin said that he was pleased to launch the competition to hear from the next generation. “I am delighted by the number and quality of video entries we received. They demonstrated the passion of young people across the globe, including in the VI, for tackling climate change.”

Governor Rankin added, “For the Virgin Islands, climate change impacts could range from longer, harsher hurricane seasons, a rise in sea levels to, in the longer term, risks to our food and water security. It’s important that we all play our part to secure our survival and ensure a brighter future for our children.”

Honourable Vincent Wheatley, Minister of Natural Resources and Labour congratulated the winners and everyone who participated.“The BVI has made important steps in tackling climate change and introducing green initiatives, but there is always more to do. I am pleased to support this initiative from the Governor and to work together and spend the day with the students.”

The winning entries will be published on the Governor Office’s Facebook page.