2007 Press Releases

February 13, 2007

2007 Ambassador's Song and Verse Contest Finals

 

Ambassador Austin, Minister Manning and Minister Kangaloo congratulate first-place winners Kaela Dick and Gabrielle Nichols Full Size

Over three thousand school children from all over Trinidad and Tobago saw eight groups of their peers compete for a TT$5,000 first prize in the finals of the 5th annual Ambassador’s Song and Verse Contest held at the Jean Pierre Complex on February 13. "Protect Intellectual Property Rights: Don’t Get Caught in the Web" was 2007’s theme. Children performed original monologues, calypsoes, rap, and soca. United States Ambassador Dr. Roy L. Austin, Minister of Education Hazel Manning, and Minister of Legal Affairs Christine Kangaloo, all co-sponsors of the contest along with local NGO The Heroes Foundation, spoke at the event and emphasized the importance of protecting creativity.

Comedian/MC Nikki Crosby, and TT soca superstars Anselm Douglas, Nadia Batson, Maximus Dan, Destra and Rikki Jai took time out of their busy pre-Carnival schedules to perform for the children. Pirated DVDs and CDs are a multimillion dollar trade in Trinidad and Tobago, and local musicians have repeatedly spoken out on the problem.

1st Place - Kaela Dick and Gabrielle Nichols - Scarborough Secondary School, Tobago

2nd Place - Jacintha Thomas, Denisa Noel, Andrew Fairbaine, Chenelle Edwards and Shaquile Mitchell - Gloster Lodge Moravian School, Port of Spain

3rd Place - Tenaj Smith - St. Augustine Secondary Comprehensive School - St. Augustine