The Saint Lucia Electricity Services Limited (LUCELEC) on Wednesday, March 6, 2013 presented a $15,000 cheque towards the sponsorship of this year’s National Science and Technology Fair to be held from March 26 – 28, at the Marigot Secondary School.

A long time sponsor the Science and Technology Fair, LUCELEC says its support derives from a recognition of the importance of science and technology in developing the disciplines necessary to inculcate a culture of problem solving among our young people.

“Science and technology provides an avenue for us to devise solutions for some of the problems we have in St. Lucia, and around the world.  St. Lucia continues to be a net importer of science and technology, but the vision that we have is that someday, in the not too distant future, we will be in a position to export some science and technology to the world.  The National Schools Science & Technology Fair is one stepping stone towards that,” said Roger Joseph, LUCELEC’s Corporate Communications Manager.

Chief Education Officer Mr Marcus Edward was also looking to the future. He says the Science Fair is part of a national focus on science and technology. Mr Edward also expressed the desire to see the commercially viability of some of the projects submitted by the student participants explored.

“Because they contribute to a national goal, I would like to see the capabilities of some of the projects refined and developed,” he said.

Motielall Singh, the Coordinator of the National School Science and Technology Fair spoke of how the Fair was providing opportunities for students to expand their boundaries at the regional level. These include the participation of winning entries from the national science and technology fairs in regional competitions, and the attendance of two Saint Lucian students at the 4-week Student Programme for Innovation in Science and Engineering (SPISE). The 2012 SPISE was held at the UWI Campus in Barbados and exposed students to hands on activities intended to foster their science training. The St. Lucian students were sponsored by LUCELEC and Light and Power Holdings, representing one of the larger shareholders in LUCELEC.

Describing LUCELEC’s $15,000 contribution as extremely valuable, Mr Singh says the company ensures the National Science and Technology Fair and other accompanying competitions such as District level fairs and primary and secondary school science quizzes are held.

LUCELEC is pleased that the renewed energy directed towards the National Science and Technology Fair is bearing fruit, as according to the Ministry of Education, there has been an increase in the number of students writing science subjects at school, an improvement in the pass rate, and some of the projects developed for the National Science and Technology Fair are wining at the regional level.

The cheque presentation was held at the Ministry of Education offices on the Castries Waterfront in Castries.