The Ministry of Education, Sports, and Creative Industries has officially unveiled the champions of the highly anticipated 2025 Christmas Home and Business Lighting Competition. This cherished annual tradition, designed to celebrate community creativity and illuminate the holiday season, recognized outstanding achievements across both residential and commercial sectors through a display of spectacular and imaginative lighting arrangements.
The residential competition was structured across four distinct geographical zones—East, West, North, and South—to ensure broad participation, while the business category encompassed the entire island. This year’s entries were noted for their exceptional artistry and profound embodiment of the festive spirit, transforming communities into winter wonderlands.
A significant incentive program accompanied the honors. All category winners received substantial cash awards, with first place awarded $3,000.00 ECD, second place securing $2,000.00 ECD, and third place taking home $1,000.00 ECD. In a move to alleviate holiday season expenses, the Ministry also announced a full 100% waiver on the December 2024 electricity bill for all home category participants. Businesses were granted a 50% waiver on their respective bills.
The Ministry extended its congratulations to the top performers. In the Business category, Shoulds’s Toys Gifts Houseware claimed the premier position, followed by Galley Bay Resort and Falmouth Harbour Marina as first and second runners-up, respectively.
Zone-specific residential winners were also celebrated: Joel Rayne (West Zone), Desiree Simon (East Zone), Vernel Weste (South Zone), and Dave Peters (North Zone). Notably, Vernel Weste achieved a perfect score of 100, followed closely by Desiree Simon with 99.7, marking them as the top overall scorers in the competition.
The Ministry concluded by applauding every participant for their contribution to the season’s cheer and expressed great anticipation for the event’s continued evolution as a cornerstone of the nation’s Christmas celebrations.