SKI Academy's Alyella Maynard wins Independence elocution contest
The Grade 5 pupil edged seven other finalists to give her school back-to-back titles, a year after her older sister won.
BASSETERRE, St Kitts. Alyella Maynard of SKI Academy has won the 2026 Independence Primary Schools' Elocution Competition, giving her school a second consecutive title.
The Grade 5 pupil narrowly beat seven other finalists at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Auditorium. SKI Academy finished on 45.67 points, ahead of the Seventh-Day Adventist Primary School on 45.41 and Halliday-Smith Primary School on 41.75.
Eight schools took part in the final: SKI Academy, Seventh-Day Adventist Primary, Halliday-Smith Primary, Dr William Connor Primary, Connor-Gumbs Primary, Violet Petty Primary, Saddlers Primary and Tyrrel Williams Primary. Each finalist had first won their zone in the preliminary rounds.
Every student delivered an excerpt from "The Same", a work by the late calypsonian Elston "King Ellie Matt" Nero.
Alyella is the daughter of Minister of Public Infrastructure Konris Maynard. Her older sister, Chezelle, won the competition in 2025.
The contest formed part of activities marking the 43rd anniversary of Independence, under the theme "One People, One Vision, Endless Possibility: Independence 43".
