A’jeana King-Fraser of Arima Girls RC School walked away with the first prize at NALIS’ Fifth Annual Young Champs Inter-Library Children’s Calypso Competition, which took place on Friday, 17 Feb., at the Arima Town Hall.

The event, which was a collaborative venture between the Arima, Maloney and Sangre Grande Public Libraries, featured 15 contestants, ages 7 to 11, from the Libraries’ respective communities.

Singing her composition, “A Royal Miss Out,” A’Jeana wowed the judges and audience alike, with her vocal ability, composure and overall presentation. The second-place prize went to Ardrianna John, of La Horquetta North Primary School. She performed “Jump Up.” Jade Joans, also from Arima Girls RC School, rounded out the top three with “Crime in my Country.”

Commenting on the success of the event, Librarian Lyndon Jackson noted that the value and social impact of programs such as these to the community cannot be understated. “Libraries not only provide access to information and promote literacy, but they also have a duty to provide outletsfor cultural and social expression among our citizenry,” he said.

NALIS thanks Councillor Lisa Morris-Julian, Mayor of Arima for her support and prize sponsors including: the Library Association of Trinidad and Tobago, the Arima Lions Club, the Santa Rosa Lions Club, COPOS Credit Union, Khan’s Bike Zone Ltd., Pita Pit (T&T) Ltd., Kiss Baking Company, Green Pastures Estate, Flavorite Foods Limited and Smalta.