NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A 10-year-old Grand Bahama native walked away with the top prize — a coveted iPad, courtesy of the United Stated Embassy — for her unique take on the Organization for Responsible Governance’s (ORG) Integrity Video Competition topic “What Integrity Means to Me” last Thursday.
Dior Pinder, a Hugh W Campbell Primary School fifth grader, captured the overall and primary school division titles for her use of skit and video editing skills for the competition.
The event was part of ORG’s National Integrity Campaign launched in October 2021. Students hailing from primary, junior and high schools across the country answered ORG’s ongoing call for members of Bahamian society to “Do the Right Ting”, even when no one is watching.
Participants displayed their understanding and creative abilities by submitting original videos under the theme “What Integrity Means to Me”.
Exclaiming that she “never wins anything”, Dior thanked her teacher, Ms Green, and ORG for making her look closely at what it means to have integrity in everyday life.
“Integrity means doing the right thing even when doing the wrong thing seems more profitable,” she said in an interview with MORE 94FM.
Also praising her efforts and ingenuity was US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Usha Pitts, who encouraged Dior to remain true to her talents.
“You illustrated your message with a good story that was fun to watch,” said Pitts in an online interview with Dior.
“Whether you use your brand-new iPad to make videos or not, I hope that you do because I think your stories are very compelling.”
CH Reeves ninth grader Jeremiah Messam and New Providence Classical School 11th grader Dacel Lee Lapastora, who were happy they met the submission deadline, placed first in the junior high and high school divisions respectively.
All winners received gift certificates sponsored by Dairy Queen.
During the recent presentation of prizes, ORG Executive Director Matt Aubry underscored how important it is for even the youngest generations to not only understand but also apply the virtue of integrity.
“This contest was a way to remind everyday Bahamians that we all have a role in anti-corruption,” said Aubry.
“As issues of corruption and crime continue to be a day-to-day reality for Bahamians, in big ways and in small, we must have an honest national conversation about what it means to have integrity.
“ORG representatives and our civil society partners were truly blown away by the effort and creativity put into the National Integrity Campaign video competition.”
ORG’s National Integrity Campaign aims to unite, educate, empower and engage citizens, residents, businesses and the government to work together to build a culture of integrity through national dialogue and collective and individual actions.
ORG invites members of Bahamian society to continue to become partners of the Integrity Campaign and help build a multi-sector, action-oriented, participatory campaign to reduce the culture of corruption in the Bahamas.
More information about the campaign, as well as supporting statistics and ways to fight corruption, can be found at http://www.dotherightting.org.
