View press release details.

Productivity Awareness Week Youth Competitions Get Underway

Productivity Awareness Week October 13-18, 2014 is an initiative of the Government of Saint Lucia in collaboration with the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council (NCPC). The main objective of the week is to cultivate and promote productivity awareness among individuals, enterprises and the nation - stirring, motivating and encouraging them to act in the interest of higher productivity. In embracing the theme for the week 'Enhancing productivity is our responsibility' the council believes that every citizen should be encouraged to be a part of the event; the youth being no exception.

The council is therefore organising a secondary school essay competition, a debating competition at the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College and a southern schools youth forum as part of the line-up of events.

The secondary school competition is open to all students in forms three, four and five. The competition will encourage students to conduct research on the concept and in doing so realising the impact that productivity growth can have on their lives.  The main sponsor for the essay competition - FastCash - recognises the need for the youth of Saint Lucia to embrace the idea of productivity and in turn apply it to their everyday life experiences.

Country Manager, Mrs Candace Samuel-Delmar states, "There is always room for improvement in the island's productivity. Activities of this nature should be used as a catalyst to inspire productivity among Saint Lucians, especially the youth. We are hoping that the message gets across to everyone who participates in the competition. We also expect that it creates a positive impact on their productivity."

Mrs Samuel-Delmar was asked why the company decided to be the main sponsor of the essay competition, she added that, "Over the years and presently, FastCash has played a leading role in financing educational, social and sporting activities as part of its corporate responsibility.  Being a part of NCPC's strive to improve productivity not only among employees but among students is definitely grounds for FastCash to assist in making this initiative a success."

The company will be sponsoring the first, second and third place prizes for the competition which are as follows: 

• One tablet with EC$500.00 plus a trophy for the first place winner with EC$800.00 being awarded to the winner's school
• One tablet with EC$300.00 for the second place winner
• EC$100.00 in cash plus one grocery voucher valued at EC$100.00 for the third place winner

The financial institution has also sponsored the debating competition by donating the first place prize of one tablet to each member of the winning team. The company's role in helping to promote Productivity Awareness Week does not end there! Mrs Samuel-Delmar  further states that,

"FastCash will also play a part in showcasing the NCPC's productivity awareness campaign among its employees and customers at large. As the saying goes "Rome was not built in a day". A campaign of this magnitude does not gain success overnight.  It has to be an ongoing effort. Therefore, FastCash will definitely be a part of the ongoing success of campaigns of this kind."

Other sponsors of the Productivity Awareness Week essay and debating competitions and southern schools youth forum include: Bay Gardens Hotel, Royal Saint Lucian Hotel, Saint Lucia Helicopters, Thomars Driving School, Trade Export Promotion Agency, Eastern Caribbean Financial Holding Ltd and Windward and Leeward Brewery.

(For further information on the NCPC Productivity Awareness Week or our essay and debating competitions or the southern schools youth forum contact the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council on Second (2nd) floor, Financial Centre Building, Bridge Street, Castries. We can also be contacted at 468 -5571/5576/5552 or visit the Council's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/stluciancpc or email at stluciancpc@gmail.com)