JGHS students wins FOI essay competition

(CNS): “The Freedom of Information Law benefits the Caymanian people as it gives them the freedom to access information and have their say in their own way, in order to ensure accountability, transparency and public participation.” This was the closing statement of an essay by Renita Barnes (right) that won the Freedom of Information Unit’s Sunshine Week 2008 essay competition.

Renita, who won two Cayman Airways tickets to Miami for her essay, is a Year 10 John Gray High School student who said she loves to write and has found FOI to be a fascinating subject. Entitled “How will the Freedom of Information Law benefit the Cayman Islands?”, the contest encouraged students to think about the new law and how it will impact their future.

The runner-up was Josani Schneider (left) from St Ignatius Catholic School. An excerpt from her essay reads: “I feel that this law will be of such a benefit to us because our country and our people will be better educated of what is going on around us, and what we need to do in order to keep going in the right direction.”

His Excellency the Governor Stuart Jack congratulated both students personally and treated them and their families to afternoon tea at Government House this week (Monday, 13 October).