JAMAICA | Holy Family Primary: The Undisputed Champions of Anti-Gambling Advocacy

KINGSTON, Jamaica, March 23, 2025 - In the fiercely competitive world of Jamaica's Underage Gambling Prevention Jingle Competition, one school stands tallest, casting a long shadow that others struggle to escape. Holy Family Primary has achieved what many would deem impossible – a clean sweep of victories that has left competition organizers and rivals alike in awe.

The remarkable streak began in 2022 when Malique Brown clinched the inaugural title. What followed was not mere coincidence but calculated brilliance as Monnoya Barrett successfully defended the crown in 2023.

The dynasty was cemented at this year's awards ceremony at the Institute of Jamaica, where Holy Family students dominated the podium – Torelle Campbell claiming first place, Tatiana Turner securing second, and Cheniqua Christie rounding out the school's dominance with a fourth-place finish.

What makes this hat-trick of triumphs even more extraordinary? The mastermind behind these award-winning jingles isn't the school's music teacher but rather Lawayne Thomas, a dedicated Grade 5 instructor of Mathematics, Language Arts, Social Studies, and Science who has served at Holy Family for eight years.

The 32-year-old Thomas discovered his passion for melodies at just five years old. Though lacking formal training, his determination led him to teach himself keyboard skills five years ago – a talent he now shares during church services as he continues to hone his craft. "I have always been writing songs and jingles for fun," Thomas reveals, "and I have been writing jingles for various school events."

His journey into competition began serendipitously when the school's guidance counselor handed him a competition flier. At that time, Thomas was already working with Malique Brown on a mathematics song.

Recognizing Brown's talent, they collaborated on a jingle and recorded it the very next day at school. "I was confident we were going to win because the chorus was quite catchy," Thomas recalls. "That's the secret – catchy melody and words, and the jingle, the song, must have feeling."

Thomas possesses an uncanny ability to identify the right voices for his compositions. Selecting Monnoya Barrett for the following year's competition came naturally: "She has a good voice...and is quite a DJ," he notes with admiration.

As interest in the competition grew among students, Thomas capitalized on the opportunity to submit three entries in 2024. Torelle Campbell, who was first to practice, validated Thomas's instincts by claiming the top prize.

"I felt good about the prospects of all three," Thomas reflects, "but was quite taken with Tatiana placing second and Cheniqua, fourth. I was so pleased."

The victorious eleven-year-old Campbell approaches performance with remarkable composure. "I am never nervous at all," she declares, "and I love to sing from I am nine years old. Mr. Thomas is easy to work with and is very determined."

Her fellow competitors share similar sentiments – Tatiana describes Thomas's songs as "inspiring," while Cheniqua appreciates how "he encourages everybody and is very motivating."

All three young talents reside in Central Kingston and share genuine concern about underage gambling. "It must be stopped," Campbell asserts firmly, "and more adult supervision is needed." Turner elaborates: "It's not good and breaks down families and friends. More fun games need to be promoted for children." Christie reinforces these sentiments with equal conviction.

When addressing the topic, the usually gregarious Thomas adopts a stern tone: "It's addictive, especially for the young. More activities like the jingle competition and other attractions for the young will go a long way."

Richard Henry, Programme Manager at Rise Life Management Services, underscores the competition's strategic importance: "The jingle competition enables greater reach to all Jamaican youth islandwide. Because of the modality, it has the effect of creating greater interest from the youth within this age group, especially on all media platforms." Henry emphasizes that "the competition is seen as a major tool in tackling underage gambling in Jamaica."

Wendy Robertson, Corporate Affairs and Communication Manager at the Betting Gaming and Lotteries Commission (BGLC), explains how these creative efforts translate into practical resources: "The winning jingles from the competition are transformed into educational animations. These also provide us with another set of critical resources which is shared on social medias and used at workshops and presentations."

The 2024 competition theme—"Gambling, Gambling!... Dat A Nuh Fi You!"—resonated powerfully through Campbell's winning entry, which begins with the thought-provoking lines:

"Gambling, gambling, that a nuh fi you
Cause yuh too young fi di gambling youth
Yuh brain too young, yuh nuh reach eighteen
And di gambling thing will cause pure things
Yuh get addicted yuh brain twisted
Yuh brain crumble like a biscuit
A one life yuh have nuh badda risk it...."

As Holy Family Primary continues its remarkable dominance in this vital social advocacy platform, one can only wonder: who among its talented ranks will step forward next year to keep the winning tradition alive?

Whatever the answer, one thing remains certain – behind them will stand Lawayne Thomas, the unlikely musical architect whose passion and perception have built an enduring legacy in Jamaica's fight against underage gambling.

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