Young storytellers shine at Nalis

Primary school pupils shined yesterday, during the finals of the National Primary School Storytelling competition. The bi-annual competition, hosted by the National Library and Information Systems (Nalis) was held at the audio/visual room of the library in Port-of-Spain. A finalist group of nine pupils had emerged in two age categories from a total of 140 participants. In her address, the library’s executive director, Annette Wallace, stressed the importance of reading to students, parents and supporters. “People who are successful usually share one thing in common and that is the love of reading,” she said. Wallace gave examples of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and United States president Barack Obama, as two successful individuals who had admitted to being avid readers.

She challenged pupils and parents to share their passion for reading with others. Wallace said it had become more demanding to engage young people in developing a reading habit when competing with new technology and social media. However, she stressed Nalis’ commitment to promote reading habits. The competition was divided into two age categories of six to nine years old and ten to 13 years old.
The winner of the younger category was seven-year-old Vishni Maharaj of San-Fernando TML Primary school, who dramatically told the story No Dinner. Maharaj’s antics and voice on stage caught the audience by surprise. Also in that category was second place winner Stephanie McKenzie, third place winner Omega Francis and Amirah Salivado, who placed fourth.

In the 10-13 age group, ten-year-old Chiane Primus, of Lower Morvant Government Primary, triumphed over her competitors with her entertaining and comedic tale Wolf Wolf. The other competitors in that category were second place winner Aaliyah De Vlught, third place Nekeal Lewis, and Daniella Foster and Arindra Persad-Maharaj. The competitors vied for prizes such as MP4 players, book vouchers, books, games and trophies.