What is already known as a tradition in the United States is making its way in Mauritius. The English Speaking Union (ESU) recently organised the sixth edition of the National Spelling Bee Competition 2006 in collaboration with the US embassy, the Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB) and the Municipal Council of Curepipe. Even though there was only one winner in each category – Forms I, II, III and IV – the US embassy public affairs officer pointed out, “you are all winners today”.

After a two-hour competition where the 32 participants were separated into the four categories, the jury awarded prizes to the official winners, Yashna Urvija Beesoon, Loreto College Port Louis for Form I, Adrien Radegonde, College du St Esprit for Form II, Madhvi Jhumun, Manilall Doctor State Secondary School for Form III and Leena Auckel, Mahatma Gandhi Secondary School, Flacq for Form IV.

The number of participants was “quite an event’ according to the master of ceremony, Sanjeev Teelock, as it reached a total of 400 in the qualifying rounds in Mauritius and in Rodrigues. The ESU president, Sir Victor Glover, made it clear, “we did not choose among so-called star schools. There was no distinction between any schools precisely because wanted a wide variety to take part in the competition”. Looking at the different schools of the winners, the ESU seems to have achieved its goal.

It will be the young Americans’ turn to live the event this week when the final, held in Washington DC, will involve about 100 students… We wish them as much fun as the young Mauritians seemed to be having!