Celebrating Creativity and Stewardship: Forestry Arbor Month Art Competition by Brent Simon

  The Ministry of Agriculture Forestry Unit commemorated the 2024 Arbor Month with a creative and impactful art competition that ran from September to November.  Six schools, Freeman Village Primary, Potters Primary, Holy Trinity Primary, Villa Primary and Kid’s connection Pre-School showcased their artistic talents while emphasizing environmental stewardship and fostering a lifelong commitment to nature.

Under the theme “Ensuring the Health and Growth of Our Planet and its Trees”, the event combined a drawing competition with a tree planting exercise. The students submitted artworks illustrating the importance of trees and the environment. Each submission was accompanied by a personal reflection on the significance of trees.  Participating schools were also given five trees each to plant, emphasizing long-term environmental care and sustainability.

Entries were judged last Friday, November 29, by a panel consisting of, Chief Judge, Mrs. Nicolette Francis/Agriculture Science Education Officer, Maudvere Bradford/Senior Research Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture, and Shenequa Williams/Communications officer with the Ministry of Agriculture.  An award ceremony was held Tuesday, 3rd December 2024, at the Forestry Unit office.

The ceremony was chaired by Ms. Maudvere Bradford who gave welcoming remarks.

This was followed by prayers and remarks from Adriel Thibou/Senior Forestry Officer, who praised the participants for their impressive submissions. He stated, “What these children presented was far beyond what I ever imagined. I was pleasantly surprised by the output especially from the pre-school. We need to allow them to develop…. This is about fostering a lifelong commitment to the environment.” Thibou also commended the teachers for nurturing young talents and urged them to continue their inspiring efforts.

Mrs. Francis, the competition’s Chief Judge, was then invited to the podium where she also expressed her gratitude to the schools and participants for their dedication and creativity.

Mr. Walter Christopher/ Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, also gave a short address to the gathering. He highlighted the importance of nurturing environmental stewardship in youths. The Permanent Secretary encouraged the students saying, “Don’t think because you are young you can’t make an impact…. I was blown away by the art.”  He also emphasized the importance of tree planting, urging students to care for the five trees donated to each school that participated. He promised to visit and ensure their upkeep, adding: “You are planting food now for your children and grandchildren,” stated Mr. Christopher.

The creativity and environmental themes showcased by the participants were judged and awarded the following:

First Place: Kids Connection Pre-School – air conditioning units donated by Mr. Simmon Charles

Second Place: Potters Primary School and Freemans Village Primary School – 2 Fans courtesy of Courts

Third Place: Freetown Primary School – a trip to Stingray City

The vote of thanks followed the prize giving and was delivered by Ms. Kadeema Ambrose/ Forestry Tour Guide.

The Forestry Arbor Month Art Competition succeeded in inspiring Antigua’s youth to take an active role in environmental preservation. It celebrated creativity, commitment, and the collective effort to nurture a greener future. The Ministry of Agriculture looks forward to continuing this impactful initiative for years to come. The success of this competition reflects the extraordinary creativity and environmental consciousness of Antigua’s youth, supported by the dedication of their teachers and schools.