Found at: http://www.anguillaguide.com/article/articleprint/3927/-1/139/

CHILDREN PRESENTED WITH ECCB AWARDS Alwyn Allison & Road School Winners

Two Anguillian children have been presented with cash awards for being winners of a competition hosted by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank to promote awareness and understanding of various issues relating to currency spending and investment decisions.

Winners, Teachers, Parents and ECCB representatives

The Primary School Jingle/Nursery Rhyme Competition, which had as its theme Your Money, Your Future, was in observance of Financial Literacy Month, October 2005. This segment and other segments of the competition, under the same theme, were open to participants in the eight member territories of the ECCB and its Currency Union. According to Patricia Webster, Administrative Professional the competition was aimed at providing an area for primary school students to creatively express their thoughts and ideas on financial issues.

The first place winner in category 1 (grades 1-2) was Rian Richardson of the Alwyn Allison Primary School and son of Curtis and Susan Best-Richardson. His prize was EC$400 for himself and for his school a printer/fax/copier machine. The third place winner in category 2 (grades 3-4), was Taryn Connor of the Road Primary School and daughter of Latoya Connor. Her prize was EC$150.

The cash prizes were presented on Tuesday this week by Carl Harrigan, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance who is also a Director on the Board of the ECCB. He was assisted by Marilyn Bartlette, Resident Agency Representative.

Rian Richardson receivng award

Mr. Harrigan said the ECCB had organised the Financial Literacy Month in October each year “to improve the understanding of financial matters among the population, particularly in the countries that use the Eastern Caribbean currency including Anguilla.” He went on: “This Jingle Rhyme Competition has demonstrated that financial literacy in the primary schools is also improving. People who are financially literate make better financial decisions. This includes from the simple task of buying food and clothing, construction or purchase of a dwelling house, the purchase of stocks, bonds, Treasury Bills or investment in real estate, hotels and other forms of business.”

He congratulated the winners and encouraged all schools in Anguilla to participate in the activities in the future. He said that this year, 2006, Financial Literacy Month would begin on October 1 under the theme Manage Your Money, Enhance Your Life. “The aim is to encourage adults in the Currency Union to avoid the pitfalls of over-spending, poor credit history and bankruptcy,” Mr. Harrigan stated. “It will also encourage planning for short and long-term investment as well as for savings and retirement.” The programme will include a trivia quiz, money-management tips and talk shows.

Education Officer for Primary Schools Education, Veda Harrigan, joined in congratulating the winning students, their schools and parents. “I hope their success will be an incentive for other students, thus encouraging them to participate in other similar competitions.” Her remarks were followed by the students reading their rhymes.

In giving the Vote of Thanks, Miss Bartlette said the event was the ECCB’s third prize-giving ceremony for primary schools. She said the bank was “very cognisant that our children are our future and we want to ensure that they have a proper understanding of financial issues.” She added: “I am proud, like the parents and teachers, that not only do we have winners, but we captured first place. The history has been that every time Anguilla participates in a competition of the Central Bank, we always get first place in whatever category. I am very happy to say to our winners ‘congratulations’ and thank you, parents, thank you, teachers, for taking the challenge and pushing and encouraging the children. Let this be a stepping stone and an example for all our primary schools.”

Carl Harrigan presenting award to Taryn Connor

| Back to normal page view | Send this article to a friend |