Miss Kristina Davis, a 5th form student at the AL-HCS, has done the Optimist Club of Anguilla proud by placing third in the Optimist International Caribbean District Oratorical Contest which was held on Saturday 26 April 2014 at the Norman Manley Law School, UWI Mona, Jamaica. Ms Davis placed 3rd in the female competition from a field of 8 participants representing Optimist Clubs from Jamaica, Barbados, Antigua & Barbuda and the Cayman Islands. First place was taken by Nia Marshall who was sponsored by the Barbados Central Optimist Club and second place by Chadeaux Roberts, sponsored by the Optimist Club of Spanish Town, Jamaica.
Speaking to her passion to become a lawyer, Kristina delivered a gripping speech on the topic, “How My Passions Can Impact the World”. Among other things she committed to: “. . . use the law to protect and safeguard our individual desires; . . . find a way to correct miscarriages of justice and to create healing through unbiased decisions that protect the innocent, and discipline those who seek to weaken our society, indeed who weaken our world with violence and injustice.”
Chairperson of the local Oratorical contest Committee, Ms Michelle Queeley, said: “We were extremely pleased with Kristina’s performance in Jamaica. She actually gave us goose bumps! We could not have asked of anything more from her after she was finished. Her natural ability to speak left many in awe! Her delivery was superb and her presence was simply gripping! After she won the local contest we were very confident that she would represent us well in Jamaica. And she has certainly not disappointed us. The competition was very tight with a mere one to two-point difference that separated the top three contestants. Many persons within the audience were disappointed that she did not win but at the end of the day the judges’ decision is final.”
Mr Jason Gilead, chairperson of the District Oratorical Committee and a member of the Optimist Club of St John’s Antigua, in issuing a statement declared, ‘Kristina was outstanding. The judges had a very difficult time deciding on the winners and I can tell you, the scores were very, very close.’
Kristina is the daughter of Mr Valentine Davis and Ms Sheila Harrigan-Davis. She was accompanied to Jamaica by her mom Sheila, Ms Queeley, and the Secretary of the Optimist Club of Anguilla, Ms Avon Carty.
The Optimist Club of Anguilla would like through this medium to thank their main sponsor Sheer restaurant in Philipsburg, St. Maarten, operated by Mr Valentin Davis. The Club also thanks Mrs Ingrid Lake, Principal of the AL-HCS; the children who participated in the local Oratorical Contest as well as their parents for their support and Superior Industrial Equipment Co for their financial assistance.
– Press Release
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
