St Kitts-Nevis Parliament honours 25 ‘Most Remarkable Teens’

The personal stories of struggle and achievement; spiritual commitment; courage; creativity; ingenuity; compassion; and the promise of the younger generation were all highlighted during a special sitting of the National Assembly to honour the 25 Most Remarkable Teens in St. Kitts and Nevis.

The annual initiative, which is coordinated by the Department of Youth Empowerment, recognizes the contribution of teenagers from across the federation who have excelled in various non-traditional fields and are making a positive contribution to uplift their community and the nation as a whole. Last night, each award was presented by parliamentarians from both sides of the aisle.

A Most Remarkable Teen designation “is a very eminent achievement compared to any global achievement attained in any section of the Eastern or Western Hemisphere of the world,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Youth Empowerment, the Honourable Shawn Richards.

“Our Remarkable Teens, tonight, have joined the pantheon of young change-makers and activists who have captured the world’s attention and influenced us with the immense scope of human, scientific and social accomplishments,” Richards said. “You were chosen tonight, not because of your greatness, but because of the simple things you do that make those around you great.”

Minister Richards noted that St. Kitts and Nevis continues to be a leader in advancing the empowerment of all young people.

The outstanding teens were highly commended by His Excellency Sir S.W. Tapley Seaton, Governor General of St. Kitts and Nevis, for their outstanding contributions to nation building.

“I commend all of the honourees for their outstanding contributions to nation building and applaud their initiatives, which demonstrate a commitment to excellence. We need them to be beacons for their fellow young people, inspiring all to aim high and to become model citizens to our young nation,” Sir Tapley’s statement read.

He congratulated the teens on their achievement to date and implored them to continue to make meaningful contributions to the development of St. Kitts and Nevis.

Sir Tapley’s message noted that the categories of the honourees “reveal the very extensive range of achievements.”

The 25 MRTs, a youth recognition initiative in the Federation, was founded in November 2011 by the Department of Youth Empowerment and is the only one of its kind in the region. To date, a total of 200 teens have been awarded under this programme.

The teens received awards in the following categories: most promising; excellence in academics; writing; sports; youth activism; fashion design; performing and visual arts; school pride; volunteerism; spiritual pride; and musical leadership. Personal decisions to change; the spirit of hope, and courage to overcome, were also part of the list.

In alphabetical order, awards were presented to:

Dolicia Barry, 16, Scholastic Leadership through Pageantry, Verchilds High School;

Nia Belle, 16, Volunteerism, Basseterre High School;

Carlon Bowen-Tuckett, 14, Sports (Cricket), Nevis Sixth Form College;

Carl Caines, 17, Community Beacon, Cayon High School;

Lemuel Chiverton, 15, School Pride, Basseterre High School;

Allese Clarke, 15, School Pride, Cayon High School;

Mikaya Collins, 15, Fashion Design, Basseterre High School;

Dannique Earle-Wilson, 14, Spiritual Commitment, Basseterre High School;

Miguel Etiene, 17, Courage to Overcome, Cayon High School;

Cartel Forde, 18, Spirit of Hope, Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College;

Sharim Hamilton, 16, Sports, Charles E. Mills Secondary School;

Kizivor Jeffers, 16, Sports, Saddlers Secondary School;

Zidane Knight, 16, Performing Arts, Basseterre High School;

Lauren Lawrence, 16, Youth Activism, Nevis Sixth Form College;

Keneisha Liburd, 18, Spiritual Commitment, Gingerland Secondary School;

Jelani Manners, 16, School Pride, Gingerland Secondary School;

Elkreen Morton, 16, Musical Leadership, Washington Archibald High School;

Shaheem Prentice, 15, Most Promising, Basseterre High School;

Naeem Richardson, 15, Writing, Basseterre High School;

Dillon Smithen, 19, Personal Decision to Change, Gingerland Secondary School;

Nickhail Sutton, 17, Volunteerism, Verchilds High School;

Khale Thomas, 18, Academics, Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College;

Aliah Vanterpool, 16, Scholar Athlete, Charles E. Mills Secondary School;

Anique Ward, 16, Visual Arts, Charles E. Mills Secondary School; and

Jeremiah Welcome, 16, Most Promising, Cayon High School.