ENTRIES for the Essay Competition mounted by the Office of the Public Defender (OPD), and targeted to students at the high school and tertiary educational institution levels, which was launched on June 30, has been extended to Friday, October 3.

Prospective entrants are being encouraged to send in their entries prior to the deadline.

“The competition, the first to be conducted by the Office of the Public Defender, was designed to educate young Jamaicans about the laws and statutes of Jamaica; and increase their awareness about their rights under the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms,” stated Kayla Beckford, Director of Investigations at the OPD.

The original deadline was August 8, but has since been extended.

Beckford explained that the contest is being conducted in two main categories: students 13 to 17 years old, at the high school level; and students 18 to 25 years, attending a tertiary institution.

In category one, the subject for 13-17-year-olds focuses on the disabled; and entrants are invited to write an essay about the treatment of disabled students in their schools.

“We pose a debatable point, and asked students if they agreed or disagreed with the treatment of disabled students; and if they determined that these students are not being treated fairly; then they should recommend ways to change the situation in approximately 1,500 words,” Beckford said.

The three prizes in Category One will include: first place will receive $10,000, to start an account at First Heritage Co-operative Credit Union Limited (FHCCUL), funds for books and uniform and a basket from GraceKennedy; second place — funds towards books from Sangster’s Bookshop, uniforms, and a basket from WYSINCO; and the third place will receive funds towards books, also from Sangster’s, uniforms, and a basket from WYSINCO.

The Director of Investigations at the OPD noted that in the 18-25-year-old category, the students are required to comment on the awareness of Jamaicans in regard to their fundamental rights and freedoms; and to state which right is most important and why; as well as, to indicate how the Office of the Public Defender can further enlighten Jamaicans about their rights and freedoms, in about 2,000 words. The students must be in their first year at a tertiary institution.

“Citizens are always protesting that ‘we want justice’, and, therefore, it is critical that more persons understand their fundamental rights, so that when they protest they can clearly articulate which one of their rights is being breached, and what they want to be addressed,” Beckford stated.

Prizes in Category Two will include: first place, a grant to start a business and $20,000 towards tuition from JN Small Business Loans (JNSBL), as well as, a basket from GraceKennedy; second prize will be $10,000 to start a savings account at First Heritage Cooperative Credit Union Limited, $15,000 towards tuition from FHCCU, and a basket from WYSINCO; third place — $15,000 towards tuition and a basket From WISYNCO.

“We welcome the opportunity to participate in this competition,” said Philip Bernard, General Manager of JNSBL, “because it is important that everyone in our society understands their rights under the constitution. And, hopefully, this competition will encourage more young people to know about their Rights under the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedom.”

Sponsors of the competition are: JN Small Business Loans Limited, The WISYNCO Group, First Heritage Co-operative Credit Union Limited, GraceKennedy, The Jamaica Observer and the Jamaica Information Service.

Entries to the competition should be emailed to: kbecford@opd.gov.jm by October 3. And the winners will be announced later in the month.