Caribbean and Latin American Students Create Posters to Save the Planet

Nearly US $27,000 in prizes, scholarships awarded.

PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. (February 13, 2009) – Each year, the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) invites students from the Caribbean and Latin America to participate in the annual FCCA Foundation Children’s Environmental Poster Competition.

This year, 17 destinations throughout the Caribbean and Latin American region participated. One entry per category was selected as a winner for the best message that advocated the role each destination plays in preserving the environment.

The winning students were announced on February 5, 2009. Nearly US$27,000 in prizes and scholarships were awarded to students ages 16 and under and their schools.

Winners included 12-year-old Huddoy Walters of Port Antonio Primary School from Port Antonio, Jamaica in the Junior Division (ages 12 and younger) and 13-year-old Laurane Pecome of College Cassient Sainte Claire from Fort de France, Martinique in the Senior Division (ages 13-16).

Students were asked to create a poster that visually depicted at least three ways they believe could help protect the environment and promote environmental awareness in their country. The competition’s purpose is to promote and stimulate environmental awareness among students and to effectively educate the younger generations on the importance of environmental protection.

Each country submitted one poster in each age category to represent its finalists. Huddoy Walter’s poster, “Preserving Our Island’s Paradise,” illustrates how we can reduce our impact on the environment. The poster depicts three ways: replanting of trees, recycling of waste materials and reducing air and water pollution.

Laurane Pecome’s poster, “I have a dream,” promotes Martinique as a clean and ecological island. The poster’s theme is inspired by Martin Luther King’s famous speech, and is about a world thriving on harmony. The actions that are highlighted are garbage collection and sorting, recycling, water protection and the protection of endangered animal and plant species.

The FCCA also congratulates the second and third place winners in each division. Second place finalists were 11-year-old Kelsia Liburd from Nevis in the Junior Category and 15-year-old D’Dron Griffin from St. Kitts in the Senior Category. Third place winners were 12-year-old Josie Lee from Belize in the Junior Category and 15-year-old Rohaan K. Allport from Dominica in the Senior Category.

Second place winners in both categories will each receive US$1,500 and third place winners will receive US$1,000. The top winners, Huddoy and Laurane, will each receive an educational scholarship of US$3,000. The FCCA will also award the schools of the first, second, and third place winners in both categories the same amount received by their winning student in lieu of art supplies. The other finalists in each division will receive US$200 to reward their participation and good work.