Minister Rambharat urges support of National Spelling Bee Competition

June 8, 2017: Speaking to hundreds of students at the Finals of the 9^th Annual National Spelling Bee Competition on Tuesday 6^th June, 2017, Senator the Honourable Clarence Rambharat, Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries called on the Environmental Management Authority to continue supporting the National Competition, saying ‘the EMA should continue to sponsor the National Spelling Bee competition’.  Much to the delight of the students Senator Rambharat spelt the word ARBORICULTURE and shared with them the meaning of the word, which is ‘the science of trees’.  Drawing attention to the Arboriculture Training Programme which he launched earlier in the day, the Minister said that ‘a lot of people take trees for granted.  [But] they play a very vital role in the environment’.

In his message to the hundreds of students present, Minister Rambharat said that ‘it is very important in life that we lay the foundation very early in life in terms of our spelling, vocabulary and language’.  He thanked the EMA and the Green Fund for their continued support and the participants from the over one hundred and seventy schools.

This year’s winner is Srihan Chekuri of the Rio Claro Hindu School, which coincidentally is the Primary School that the Minister attended as a child.  The other two finalists were Angelo Harrigan, Don Ross Private Prep School - 2^nd Place; and Ross Ramkissoon - St. Peter's Private Primary School - 3^rd Place.

Congratulations are in order for the eighteen finalists from the following schools:

1. Arima Centenary Government
2. Chaguanas RC
3. Charlieville ASJA
4. Cunapo St Francis RC
5. Curepe Presbyterian
6. Don Ross Private Preparatory
7. El Dorado North Hindu
8. Grosvenor Presbyterian
9. Palmyra Hindu
10. Richmond Street Boys AC
11. Rio Claro Hindu
12. San Fernando TML
13. Rosary Boys RC
14. St Brigid’s Girls RC
15. St Joseph Girls mRC
16. St Mary’s Government
17. St Peter’s Private Primary
18. Tunapuna Girls RC

The Competition saw the participation of over three hundred Standard 3 students from one hundred and seventy five (175) primary schools.

Event sponsors were the Environmental Management Authority, its partners Sandee Communications and the ‘Green Fund’.

 Senator the Honourable Clarence Rambharat, Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries addresses the audience. 

^1st Place Winner - Srihan Chekuri of the Rio Claro Hindu School

Cross-section of the audience. 

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For further information please contact:

The Corporate Communications Unit

Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries

868-622-1221