The curtains rose on Day One of the National Speech Finals with a heartwarming twist this year. Rural schools turned out in force, not just with their students but with their teachers front and center. Among the standout performers was Port Antonio Primary, whose Culture Club team of educators wowed judges and audiences alike with their stellar performance.

Phyllidia Brown McKenzie, a proud representative and writer of the award-winning performance “Who Stress” of Port Antonio Primary, shared the school’s remarkable journey to the national stage. “Before we even got to parish level, it was all about the hard work we put in at school,” she explained. “Between our daily classes, we carved out time to rehearse. It’s not just get up and win — we worked, worked, worked.”

That dedication paid off generously. The school clinched what they affectionately call “the national gold” at the parish level, earning them a coveted spot in the finals. And now, for the second consecutive year, Port Antonio Primary Culture Club has been crowned national champions in their category- Dub Poetry Ensemble — a category dominated entirely by teachers, including the school’s vice-principal and principal.

The day also featured performances from the Godfrey Stewart Performing Arts Society in various categories, including Experimental Dub, Dub Ensemble, and Dub Poetry. The Mannings school also delivered two national trophies in categories such as Experimental Dub and Dub Ensemble.
The performance was not only a testament to the talents of educators but also a celebration of the vibrant cultural life in Jamaica’s rural communities. 

As the competition continues, Day 2 will feature Classes one, two, and four on Thursday, May 1, at the Little Theatre. The music segment resumes with Drumfest on Monday, May 5, at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre, before returning to the Little Theatre on May 6 and 8.