The Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC) carried out a month-long celebration in May for National Water Month. Throughout The Bahamas WSC updated customers on their recent upgrades and on-going improvement works.
During the month the corporation and their partner MIYA Bahamas also encouraged primary school students to conserve water and learn about the importance of water in their everyday lives. As part of their student education they also held a Wet & Wise Essay & Video Competition for Junior High Schools. The contest allowed junior high students from around the country to submit essays or videos on the theme: Water & Energy - Inseparable Friends.
After receiving a stunning number of submissions, the winners in the essay category were chosen by a select panel of judges. “The submissions were exceptional and we had a variety of essays and videos to choose from. Judging the competition was extremely hard thanks to the creativity of all of the students who entered,” said Visna Armbrister, WSC Public Affairs Manager.
Winners for the essay competition were:
1st - Jovan Bailey, Forrest Heights High School, Abaco
2nd - Waynesha Thompson, Eight Mile Rock High School, Grand Bahama
3rd - Carlton Taylor, St. Andrews Anglican School, Exuma
Winners in the video category were
1st - Chris Wu, Temple Christian, Nassau
2nd - Jayvanna August, Eight Mile Rock High School, Grand Bahama
3rd - Ketora Clarke, Eight Mile Rock High School, Grand Bahama
“The National Essay/Video Competition is the signature event during National Water Month because it helps to accent the primary reason for the observance of National Water Month,” noted Armbrister. “Despite the month-long activities and a very busy schedule, which included Customer Appreciation Days celebrated in both New Providence and the Family Islands, the National Essay and Video Competition is truly a highlight to our activities as it helps the Corporation carry out its mandate to inform and educate the public of the importance of water as a precious resource. If our youth can help us send that message, then we feel we’ve achieved our purpose for celebrating.”
The top winners in both categories received laptops, and a winner’s plaque. Second place winners received tablets and a plaque and third place winners received plaques congratulating them on their win, along with WSC gift bags.
“I am very proud of my students,” said Damaso Gray, art teacher at Eight Mile Rock High School. “When I saw the competition on Facebook I encouraged all of my students in that age bracket to participate. These students are the future and they all did very well.”
The Corporation would like to take this opportunity to thank the students and their teachers for participating in the competition and hope that next year even more schools will submit essays and/or videos to compete for exciting awards and increase their knowledge about water conservation.
The Water and Sewerage Corporation was established through an Act in 1976 with full responsibilities for managing, maintaining, distributing and developing the water resources of The Bahamas.
The Corporation has a team of over 400 dedicated employees in New Providence and the Family Islands, committed to the growth and excellence in service quality, which is the key driving force that guides and sustains the relationships with customers, employees, and communities served by the Corporation.
Through a loan with the IDB in 2011 the Water and Sewerage Corporation has developed the WSC Support Program to address Non-Revenue Reduction, WSC Institutional Strengthening, Rehabilitation and Upgrade of Wastewater Infrastructure and Preparation of a Wastewater Treatment Master Plan and an upgrade of the Legal and Regulatory Framework. The Support Program will ultimately improve the quality of water and service to customers.
