Our young writers emerged as winners of the Conference On The Economy (COTE) Essay
Competition for CAPE Students 2017 by copping the COTE Challenge Trophy for the second year
in a row. We are proud of the efforts of Emily Toolsieram-Maharaj, Alexandria Indarsingh, and
Amy Ramdath, who placed first, second and third respectively in this prestigious national
competition.
Every year the University of the West Indies, Department of Economics organizes the
Conference on the Economy (COTE) Essay Competition for CAPE Students. The aim of this
initiative is to give young people an opportunity to elaborate on national economic and social
policy within a context of the global economic environment.
Participants in this year’s edition of the competition were required to discuss the challenges an
economy might face in recovering from a period of recession. Some of the challenges discussed
in their essays included reducing public debt, improving investor confidence, attracting
investment, boosting employment, improving the ease of conducting business, reducing
bureaucracy and corruption and dealing with the natural resource curse. Additionally, they
examined possible positive effects of recession such as fiscal reform, a drive to innovation and
opportunities for diversification.
Prizes were distributed at the opening ceremony at the conference, which was held on the 11th
of October at the Learning Resource Centre at the University of West Indies, St. Augustine. Well
done girls!
