WHAT'S ON

For the second straight year, Leopold and Candia Richards have copped the overall winning title in the seventh annual Homes, Families and Gardens Festival - an event organised by the Community Development Division.

The couple, from Old Road, walked away with first place for three of the four categories in the West Zone - fruit and vegetable, flower and landscape. They placed second in the newest category, herb and spice. Mr. and Mrs. Richards first entered the Homes, Families and Gardens Festival competition last year.

The winners were announced on Wednesday 10th December during a ceremony at the Precision Centre.

Other first place winners in the various segments were Birchfield Osbourne in fruit and vegetable and herb and spice and Collin Maynard in flower and landscape from the North Zone. In the East Zone, Ruby Lawrence won fruit and vegetable, Marcia English – flower and Christiana Martin - landscape. For the South Zone, Delano Christopher won three of the four categories - fruit and vegetable, flower and herb and spice. Glen and Shermain Prosper walked away with first place for landscape. On the sister isle, James Gerald, who won first place in the flower segment and landscape, was named the overall winner.

During the ceremony, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Social Transformation and Human Resource Development Sarah Stuart-Joseph noted that the competition motivates residents to use their creativity to further enhance and beautify their surroundings. According to Head Judge Angela Ephraim, many people paid a lot of attention to their gardens.

The Community Development Division expresses its appreciation to the sponsors of the event – the Environment Division, Community First Credit Union, Antigua Farm and Garden Supply, Jolly Beach Resort and Spa, Ornamental Concrete Products, LL Supply Ltd., St John’s Cooperative Credit Union, Antigua Computer Technology, Road House Restaurant, Horizon Ltd and Express Laundromat.