FAIR Prospect High School in Portland copped the CIBC trophy, a computer and printer for being the “most environmentally aware” school at the recent national awards ceremony for the Schools’ Environment Programme (SEP) held at the Jamaica Conference Centre.

Second prize of a television set and VCR went to Belair Preparatory in Manchester and Moneague Primary in St Ann claimed the third prize of a television set.

Fifty-four schools emerged winners at the regional level with 11 finalists at the national level excelling in areas such as “most knowledgeable students”, “best physical environment” and “best community participation” for which they received special awards at the event. In addition to the top three schools, the other national finalists were Content Gap All-Age, St Andrew; St Thomas Technical; Highgate All-Age, St Mary; Guanaboa Vale Primary, St Catherine Primary; Vere Technical High, Clarendon; Hampton High School, St Elizabeth High; Anchovy Primary and Heinz Simonitsch Preparatory in St James.

Guest speaker at the awards function, the minister of land and environment Horace Dalley, stressed the importance of everyone taking responsibility for his and her actions in the protection of our home – the earth.

The minister congratulated the SEP on training “young minds not only to be aware of their surroundings, but to implement programmes that will assist in protecting and conserving what we have”.

“When I see the work that these students have displayed and when I hear them speak about the environment, I know there is hope for Jamaica,” Dalley said.

Jennifer Carty-Peart, CIBC’s Investment Banking Services manager, said her company was proud to be partners with the SEP.

“We do hope that many other companies will assist the programme so that it can reach the wider society and help communities to understand the importance of maintaining a healthy environment,” she added.

SEP is the largest environmental education programme in the island. It is implemented in over 300 primary, preparatory, all-age, and high schools across the island, with supervision from 15 non-governmental organisations. The programme is run as a competition using the categories of garbage management, greening a school, forming or strengthening an environment club and environmental research.

Funding is received from the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica, the British High Commission, Canada/Jamaica Green Fund Project, ENACT and five corporate sponsors — CIBC Jamaica, West Indies Alumina Company, Jamaica Producers Group Limited, Jamaica Energy Partners and Industrial Gases Limited.