Paula Lindo – Our histories, stories, present, future.

“We can all do something small to save the environment,” was the message as 30 contestants from 25 schools took place in the Inspire Primary School Spoken Word Poetry Showcase at the Central Bank Auditorium on May 21. Students tackled the issues of climate change and plastic pollution.

The showcase is the culmination of the national primary school outreach programme hosted by the 2 Cents Movement (2CM) in association with Republic Bank Limited. This year their knowledge partner, in keeping with the theme, was the Environmental Management Authority.

Common themes were garbage monsters, the death of Mother Earth, types of pollution, marine life, littering, the destructiveness of humans, the 3 Rs – reduce, reuse and recycle, the damage pollution does to the ocean, animals, and humans, and the need for personal, political and Governmental accountability. One girl sang “children, put all your trash in a garbage bag” to the tune of Farmer Nappy’s Hookin’ Meh, and another had the audience sing along to the bits of paper nursery rhyme.

The atmosphere was electric and it was heartwarming to see that as each performer came on stage, the other performers would chant “Support, support” as they took to the microphone. Courage and bravery were on display as the children took the stage, some of them with visible stage fright but powering on regardless.

The performers were Zakariyya Mohammed from Charlieville ASJA Primary School, Kayla Harris from St. Aidan’s Anglican Primary School, Amalia Rodney-Quamina of St. Finbar’s Girl’s R.C. Primary School, Leelom Phillip, Shanaiah Douglas and Joshua Christmas from Morvant Epiphany Anglican Primary School, Anika Collins and Breshawn Springer from Diego Martin Government Primary School, Kayleen Harris from St. Aidan’s Anglican Primary School, Azariah Leacock, Adenike Victor and Aliyah Kirton from Dinsley Trincity Government Primary School, Jedaiah Joseph and Jaeda Nicholls from Curepe Anglican Primary School, Daniella Williams from Rose’s Girls’ R.C. Primary School, Joshua Ramcallian from San Fernando Boys’ R.C. Primary School, Angelique Balmacoon and Valeska Balmacoon from Tunapuna Presbyterian Primary School, Damani Laidlow from Five Rivers TIA Primary School, Sabali Oliverree from Arouca Government Primary School, Anissa Grant from Belmont Government Primary School, Aubrianna Nero and Rayhan Ryan-Roberts from Chaguanas R.C. Primary School, Amariah Augustin from Tunapuna Government Primary School, Adara Edwards from La Horquetta North Government Primary School, Quinn Koylass from St. Peter’s Private Primary School, Kendra Bailey from Bon Air Government Primary School, Amba Caseram and Sayesha Caseram from Balmain Presbyterian and Josanne Pilgrim from Scholastic Academy.

At the end of the performances, each child was awarded a medal and a certificate. Head judge, Spoken Word Teaching Artist Ariana Herbert, congratulated the performers on doing a fantastic job. She said the presentations were nothing short of inspiring, and that they were incredibly important and very powerful, and in some cases shocking and confrontational. She said they showed creativity in their references to politics, monsters and villains showed their creativity. Herbert said the pieces showed that the students recognised that we all have a part to play in the fight against pollution.

The awards handed out were: the Patau Most Outstanding Line Award, for the line that made the best use of simile, metaphor or alliteration, given to Leelom Phillip; the Pendulum Most Unique Performance Award, awarded to Aliyah Kirton; the Patty Most Unique Poem Award for a poem that covered a topic that no one spoke about, given to Jedaiah Joseph; the Pip Courageous Award, given to a poet who forgot or stumbled but recovered, awarded to Azariah Leacock; the Pippa Outstanding Performance Award for the best performer of the day, given to Jedaiah Joseph, Joshua Ramcallian and Aliyah Kirton; the Pap Outstanding Poem Award for the best poem of the day, awarded to Jedaiah Joseph, Joshua Ramcallian and Aliyah Kirton; the EMA Commercial Award for the poem that would serve as a good infomercial on the topic, awarded to Adenike Victor and the 2 Cents Award for Most Supportive Crew, given to Curepe Anglican Primary School.

2CM Artistic Director Derron Sandy said the topic was chosen in accordance with 2CM’s commitment to aligning with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. He said initially he had reservations about how the students would receive the topic, but after they were introduced to it in a creative way, “that set induction by means of performance really allowed them to warm up to the topic and take it on with a kind of new zeal. Then when they realized there are so many simple things they could do to save Mother Earth, I guess it gave them some sort of heroic kind of feeling to go on and write the poems and feel like they are really contributing to a better T&T and world.”