The Ministry of Natural Resources has announced the winners of its inaugural Tony Shields Memorial Essay Competition, including a University of Guyana (UG) student who has been awarded one year’s tuition.
In a press release issued on Friday, the ministry said the contest, which was launched on January 30th, 2019, was an effort by the ministry and the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners’ Association (GGDMA) to keep ever-green the stellar contribution of the late Shields to the mining sector and the overall development of Guyana. It said it also served to ensure discourse on our country’s natural resources sector across all educational levels. A total of 41 submissions were received from across Guyana in the three categories, University (16), Secondary (14) and Primary (11).
The University students were invited to make submissions of between 1,500 and 2,000 words discussing “How can the development of new mining technologies and regulations improve the efficiency of mining and reduce its environmental impact?”
The Secondary-level students were tasked with making submissions of between 1,000 and 1,500 words on “What is a green mining concept and how can it be implemented or further implemented in Guyana?”
Meanwhile, in the Primary-level category, students were asked to write an essay between 500 and 1,000 words on “How can mining become more sustainable and energy efficient?”
The three-member review team comprised of Rosalie Seepaul, a lecturer, Shondell France from the Ministry of Natural Resources and William Woolford, of the GGDMA.
After discussions and consensus by the review team, the ministry said three persons were successful in the University category: Sarah Bovell, who was awarded first place and one year’s tuition at UG; Akilah Noble, who was awarded second place and an electronic tablet; and Sasha Ramsarran, who was awarded third place and a smartphone.
In the Secondary category, Johanna Hamilton and Kendra Trotman were both awarded first place and laptop computers, while Ambra Lindie was awarded second place and an electronic tablet, and Kushi Dwarka was awarded third place and a prize of a smartphone.
In the Primary Category, Rachel Davis won first place and a trip to Iwokrama and book vouchers, Arysh Raghunauth and Michael Leonard II tied for second and were each awarded electronic tablets, and Zalika McAlmont was awarded third place and school supplies assistance for a year.
The release said the Ministry of Natural Resources and the GGDMA congratulate all students for their participation.
