The Heritage Library Division, Nalis celebrated National Poetry day by hosting a National Poetry Verse Reading Competition for primary and secondary schools at the National Library, Port of Spain.

Twenty contestants represented ten primary schools and fifteen contestants represented five secondary schools in the Port of Spain district.

In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Trinidad and Tobago’s Independence the theme for this year’s competition was “Fifty Years of Poetry”. Participants in both competitions were required to recite a test piece, as well as a poem of their choice.  The themes of both pieces reflect the spirit of Trinidad and Tobago’s Independence. The Test piece for primary school was “I Love My Country” written by Machel Montano. “A Big Little Country” written by Eunice Peters was the test piece for secondary schools.

Winners of the National Poetry Day Celebrations were:

Primary School
1ST Place- Annalise Emmanuel - Sacred Heart Girls’ R.C. School
2nd Place- Naila Mannette - Newtown Girls R.C. School
3rd Place- Josiah Hamlet - Nelson Street Boys R.C. School

Secondary School
1ST Place- Deon Mc Farlane - Chaguanas Hi Tech/ Servol 
2nd Place- Korey Gill - Queen’s Royal College 
3rd Place- Shakela Rene - Chaguanas Hi Tech/ Servol