A long-running initiative to deepen public understanding of historical injustice and reparatory action in Antigua and Barbuda has reached its latest milestone, with the Antigua and Barbuda Reparations Support Commission (ABRSC) officially announcing the winners of its highly anticipated 2026 national essay competition. This year’s contest centered on the timely, thought-provoking theme “Reparatory Justice: Reflection and Projection,” drawing submissions from a diverse cross-section of learners across the country’s education system.
Unlike many academic competitions that limit participation to a single educational tier, the 2026 essay contest opened its doors to entrants across four distinct groups: primary school students, secondary school students, learners at the Antigua and Barbuda College of Advanced Studies (ABCAS), and undergraduate and graduate students at the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus. Organizers reported that the range and quality of submissions far exceeded expectations, with entries showcasing exceptional creativity, rigorous scholarly research, and a nuanced, mature grasp of the complex topic of reparatory justice.
Dr. Lenworth Johnson, the coordinator tasked with overseeing the 2026 competition, offered high praise for all participants who took the time to develop and submit their work. In remarks following the judging process, Johnson highlighted that every top-placed essay met and exceeded the competition’s four core judging standards: clarity of argument, depth of historical awareness, logical structural organization, and command of language. “These essays were far more than academic exercises,” Johnson noted. “They were imaginative, deeply insightful pieces, enriched with vivid personal and contextual imagery that brought the topic of reparatory justice to life for readers.”
Winners were selected across two primary competitive categories to match the different educational levels of participants. In the university student category, Elena Etinoff claimed the top prize, followed by Neilisha Maragh in second place and Makkedah Lawrence in third. For the combined category of ABCAS learners and secondary school students, Shemika David of Clare Hall Secondary School took first place, with Uriah Francis from ABCAS’s Dr. Alister Francis Campus earning second place and Ariana Goodluck of ABCAS’s Eustace Hill Campus securing third place.
In addition to public recognition, all winners received a combination of cash prizes and educational books. For university category winners, first place takes home EC$600, second place receives EC$400, third place gets EC$250, and all three top finishers receive a curated collection of books focused on Caribbean and African history. For the ABCAS/secondary school category, first place earns EC$500, second place gets EC$300, third place receives EC$150, paired with the same set of educational books.
On behalf of the full commission, Chair H.E. Dorbrene O’Marde extended warm congratulations to every winner, as well as sincere gratitude to all participants and partnering educational institutions that supported the competition. The ABRSC emphasized that the essay competition is a core part of its broader mission to advance public education, encourage critical thinking, and build widespread awareness of reparatory justice and the shared history of African Caribbean people across Antigua and Barbuda. Commission members noted they hope the contest will continue to inspire new generations of learners to engage with this critical national and regional topic in years to come.