The Antigua and Barbuda Reparations Support Commission (ABRSC) has announced the winners of its 2026 Essay Competition, held under the theme “Reparatory Justice: Reflection and Projection.                     

The competition drew submissions from students at the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus, the Antigua and Barbuda College of Advanced Studies (ABCAS), and secondary and primary schools across the nation.

Dr Lenworth Johnson, Coordinator of the competition, commended participants for the quality of their work across the four judging criteria used to assess entries.

“All winners performed exceptionally across the four judging criteria – clarity, historical awareness, structure, and language,” Johnson said. “Their essays were imaginative, insightful, and enriched with vivid imagery.”

In Category 1, open to university students, Elena Etinoff placed first, followed by Neilisha Maragh in second and Makkedah Lawrence in third.

Category 2, covering ABCAS and secondary school students, was won by Shemika David of Clare Hall Secondary School, with Uriah Francis of ABCAS’s Dr Alister Francis Campus taking second place and Ariana Goodluck of ABCAS’s Eustace Hill Campus placing third.

Winners in Category 1 received cash prizes of EC$600 for first place, $400 for second and $250 for third, each accompanied by a selection of books.

Category 2 winners received EC$500 for first place, $300 for second and $150 for third, also with accompanying books.                                 

The ABRSC extended its appreciation to all participating students and institutions for their commitment to promoting education, critical thinking, and awareness of reparatory justice and African-Caribbean history.

Commission Chair H.E. Dorbrene O’Marde congratulated all winners and participants for their contributions.

The essay competition forms part of the ABRSC’s broader mandate to engage Antiguans and Barbudans, particularly young people, in the ongoing regional conversation around reparatory justice.