Hezziann Sydney Wins 2023 World Oceans Day Art Competition

St. Joseph’s Convent student Hezziann Sydney has won the 2023 World Oceans Day Art Competition, organised by Saint Lucia’s Department of Sustainable Development.

Her winning piece, ‘Planet Ocean: Tides are Changing’, depicted two of the greatest threats to the world’s oceans: climate change and pollution. The artwork was divided into four sections: two ocean scenes and the other two written warnings highlighting the disasters that could unfold if collective action is not taken to preserve the oceans.

Explaining the meaning behind her creation, Sydney shared, “The top left corner is what I call ‘Only a Matter of Time’. It’s an hourglass representing time. The bottom represents all the factories and all the man-made junk going up and polluting the water at the top and melting all the ice, like what’s happening in Antarctica.”

The other thought-provoking visual emphasised the danger to ocean ecosystems, illustrating a blue whale expelling pollution from its blowhole.

For her first-place performance, Sydney won a Samsung Galaxy A35 5G phone, sponsored by the OECS Commission under the BioSpace Project, and art supplies sponsored by the Iyanola Project.

Other finalists included Leah Edward from Beanefield Secondary, who placed second; Shanise Lamontagne of Soufriere Comprehensive in third place; Meriva Joseph from St. Joseph’s Convent, who secured fourth place; and Quincy Prince of Beanefield Secondary, who rounded out the top five.

In recognition of their outstanding participation, these finalists received Sea Trek vouchers, sponsored by the Saint Lucia National Conservation Fund, as well as art supplies sponsored by the Iyanola Project.

The Department of Sustainable Development expressed its gratitude to all sponsors, schools, parents, students, and collaborators who contributed to the competition’s success.