Students explore consumer rights in new schools contest

Secondary school students across Barbados are being urged to become more informed and influential consumers after a new national competition revealed both strong creativity and gaps in awareness, according to the Office of Public Counsel.

The department of the Ministry of Energy and Business hosted its first Essay and Poster Competition Awards Ceremony at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre.

Held in observance of World Consumer Rights Day under the theme “Safe Products, Confident Consumers,” the inaugural competition encouraged students to explore consumer protection and the Consumer Guarantees Act, through essays and posters.

Public Counsel Sandra Rawlins described the ceremony as the beginning of a wider effort to educate young consumers across Barbados.

“This awards ceremony provides an opportunity for us at the Office of Public Counsel to recognise and celebrate the exceptional efforts, creativity, and originality of our young participants in the secondary schools of Barbados,” she said.

She explained that the initiative was created because “there’s a new generation of consumers within our secondary schools.”

“These students, once armed with knowledge, not only become discerning consumers with full knowledge of their consumer rights but can equally influence their parents’ purchasing habits through educating their households and extended family units.”

Rawlins said knowledgeable consumers can positively influence businesses to provide “safer, durable products” and better services while encouraging suppliers to respect the consumer guarantees protected under Barbadian law.

While participation in the essay competition was “modest”, lthe response gave the Office of Public Counsel “valuable insight and an opportunity to strengthen outreach and encourage broader engagement in future initiatives”, she said.

The poster competition, however, stood out for its creativity and strong engagement with the theme.

Christ Church Foundation School student Shadonneia Patrick-White captured first place in the senior essay competition after nearly deciding not to enter.

First place senior essay competition winner Shadonneia Patrick-White with her Food and Nutrition teacher. (Photo Credit: Lauryn Escamilla/Barbados TODAY)

“When I had originally started to enter the competition, I was a bit nervous because I didn’t know if I would place good and I had started to not want to do it,” she said. “But something convinced me to do it and I’m glad that I did it because well I came first.”

Her essay focused on educating consumers about their rights and understanding what protections exist when purchasing goods and services.

“My essay talks about how consumers should know… what you’re getting from businesses. If something is not right, you should send it back. I also included the Consumer Guarantee Act in it.”

The sixth-former credited lessons from her Management of Business and Food and Nutrition classes, along with support from her teachers, for helping her prepare her winning entry.

“If you see something online and you think that is something that you can do, you should always go for it because you don’t know how you would do on the competition and you might end up winning,” she said.

Junior essay first-place winner Weiyang Su of Harrison College said his research became part of his everyday life.

Junior essay first place winner Weiyang Su of Harrison College. (Photo Credit: Lauryn Escamilla/Barbados TODAY)

“I did a lot of research and every time I went shopping, I would think of it,” he said. “The main point of my essay was the [Consumer Guarantee Act].”

Su, who also entered the poster competition, acknowledged there was “a lot of pressure” but said he was motivated by family encouragement and the challenge itself.

“I recommend this competition to keep on going,” he added.

Second-place senior essay winner Gabriella Grant of the Daryll Jordan Secondary School focused on unsafe selling environments and poor product handling practices she observed.

Second Place winner of the senior essay competition Gabriella Grant. (Photo Credit: Lauryn Escamilla/Barbados TODAY)

“My essay was about protecting the consumers and making the environment a little bit safer where you sell products,” she said.

“Looking at town, I realise that a lot of people [are] selling things.”

Grant encouraged future entrants to think critically and develop their own perspectives.

“Go deeper in. Put it in your own words and bring it to life,” she advised.

First prize in the poster competition went to Shamya Roach, a third-form student of the Deighton Griffith Secondary School, and her school received the Creative Excellence School Achievement Award. Harrison College earned the School Participation Award for the highest level of participation in the poster competition.

First place poster competition winner Shamya Roach of Deighton Griffith Secondary School. (Photo Credit: Lauryn Escamilla/Barbados TODAY)

The Office of Public Counsel intends to continue expanding the initiative, Rawlins said. 

“The Office of Public Counsel looks forward to building on this foundation through future competitions and initiatives that will further promote consumer awareness, creativity, and active participation among young people.”

(LE)