TCI: Holy Family Academy Takes Top Spot at History & Cultural Heritage Quiz

#Providenciales, November 6, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – Holy Family Academy is the winner of this year’s Turks and Caicos National Museum Foundation’s History & Cultural Heritage Quiz. The competition saw nine high schools from across Turks and Caicos vie for the title, and was hosted on October 31 at Brayton Hall in Providenciales in partnership with the Departments of Education and Culture, and FortisTCI as the primary sponsor.

The Turks and Caicos National Museum established the History & Cultural Heritage Quiz in 2015 to create a space where knowledge of the country’s history and culture could be shared and passed on to younger generations. It is held each year during October when National Heritage month is observed.

Students prepare for weeks leading up to quiz day, rigorously studying and learning about local bush medicine, fishing and whaling, the salt history and significance of the Salinas, cotton, sisal, and the endemic wildlife. Students must also know about the country’s national parks, natural heritage, and general knowledge of the islands’ cultural and historical timeline.

Representing Holy Family Academy were Ikera Stubbs, Nahysha Hinson, and Christian Jean, supported by their teacher Guilmise Gustave. Coming in second place and representing Raymond Gardiner High School were Cameron Handfield, Davar Lewis, and Cajair Davidson, supported by their teacher Stacie Ann Taylor.

Winning the grand prize, Holy Family’s team will travel to neighboring Jamaica in 2020, where the group will explore the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and learn about that country’s historical ties to Turks and Caicos. FortisTCI is sponsoring the cost of accommodations, ground transportation and tour activities. As runners up, Raymond Gardiner’s team will travel within the Turks and Caicos to one to the inhabited islands where they will learn about its history and culture, with their trip supported by TCI Reef Fund. InterCaribbean Ltd. has comped airfare for both groups.

Speaking about the event, FortisTCI Senior Vice President of Corporate Services Ruth Forbes said, “FortisTCI has been a loyal partner to the National Museum and the Department of Education as a major sponsor of this event for a few years. Every year, on this occasion, I’m reminded of the reasons why we support this effort. We support because of the passion and dedication of the organizers and teachers to preserve our heritage and culture, and the inspiration and pride seen in our students as they prepare, learning about our country’s diverse group of islands.”

Turks and Caicos National Museum Director Michael Pateman said, “The Museum is pleased to continue to develop and host the History and Cultural Heritage Quiz to be a great learning experience for students. I want to thank FortisTCI as our corporate sponsor for this event and our other supporting sponsors for their commitment to the education of our youth. It is your continued contribution that makes this work possible.”

The chief organizer of this event was Turks and Caicos National Museum Associate Candianne Williams. Turks and Caicos Islands Community College Public Relations Officer Rachel Harvey served as the quiz moderator. Judges comprised the Director of Education Edgar Howell, Director of Culture Ludwina Fulford, Director of the Turks and Caicos National Museum Dr. Michael Pateman, and Department of Environment and Coastal Resources Education Outreach Coordinator Amy Avenant.

This year’s competition also featured cultural presentations from a British West Indies Collegiate student Brandon Handfield who played the steel pan, Enid Capron Primary School’s Ripsaw Band, and an animated reading by Brenda Clare of a selection from local poet Emily Malcolm.

Participating schools:

HJ Robinson High School

Holy Family Academy

Long Bay High School

Maranatha Academy

Marjorie Basden High School

Provo Middle School

Raymond Gardiner High School

TCI Middle School

Wesley Methodist High School

Release: FortisTCI