Students from St. Roses High School and Christ Church Secondary yesterday kicked off the first round of the impromptu speech competition sponsored by the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) Regent Street Branch.

At a short opening ceremony to launch the competition the other 14 participating schools and the judges were introduced.

The competition, which will be held at the bank’s Recreational Centre in Bel Air Park, is scheduled to close off on February 20 with the finals.

The other participating schools are Annandale Secondary, Apex Academy, Central High, Covent Garden Secondary, Cummings Lodge Secondary, Mae’s Secondary, Marian Academy, North Georgetown Secondary, President’s College, Queen’s College, School of the Nations, St. John’s College, St. Stanislaus College and St. Joseph High.

The participants are drawn from the fourth and fifth forms.

Delivering the charge yesterday Assistant Chief Education Officer for Secondary Schools, Cherrilene Baxter-Dennis told students that impromptu speaking brings a different type of knowledge and skill to the fore. She advised the participating students that when they are delivering their speeches to take the platform with enthusiasm and confidence. She also advised them never to make excuses or apologies during their speeches and to avoid common blunders.

Also speaking was Radhakrishna Sharma, Chief Executive Officer of GBTI. He said that as the largest Guyanese-owned banking institution, GBTI sees itself as having a very important role in developing and supporting activities that seek to build individuals and communities.

“This bank has maintained a well-known focus on young people over the years, from our Early Savers Club which provides the opportunity for young people to begin saving to our Career Guidance Sessions conducted at our branches that seek to provide school leavers for the working environment.”

Sharma told the gathering that in 2001 the bank began using its annual almanac as a medium for young people to present messages that would in some way impact on the society.

He said that the competition’s objective is to train young people so that they can be prepared for future social situations where they have to give opinions on different issues and are expected to reply immediately.

Tomorrow Marian Academy will meet Cummings Lodge while St. Stanislaus will come up against Covent Garden Secondary as the first round of competition continues.