Faulkner, Varlack Win Mosquito Competition
Tiffany Faulkner and Axel Varlack were named winners of the Virgin Islands’ Art and Poetry Competition held as part of Caribbean Mosquito Awareness Week (May 11–15, 2026). The students’ entries highlighted the Aedes aegypti life cycle, practical prevention steps and the dangers of mosquito-borne diseases, while officials urged residents to remain vigilant in eliminating breeding sites.
Tiffany Faulkner and Axel Varlack have been declared first-place winners in the Virgin Islands’ Art and Poetry Competition held during Caribbean Mosquito Awareness Week, observed from May 11 to 15, 2026. The competition invited students from public and private schools across the territory to create works that raise awareness about mosquito control and protecting public health.
Faulkner won the Art Competition with a bright, educational illustration showing the life cycle of the Aedes aegypti mosquito and practical steps residents can take to prevent breeding. Her artwork specifically highlighted covering water storage containers, cleaning gutters, eliminating standing water and wearing protective clothing to reduce mosquito bites.
Varlack claimed first place in the Poetry Competition with a poem that emphasised the dangers of mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue, Zika and chikungunya. His poem urged community cooperation to find and remove breeding sites and protect vulnerable residents. According to a Government Information Service (GIS) press release, Acting Deputy Chief Environmental Health Officer Shamelle Thomas congratulated the young winners and underscored the value of engaging youth in environmental health initiatives. "Competitions such as these provide an opportunity for our youths to showcase their talents while learning about the critical role they play in protecting public health," Mrs Thomas said, adding that students can act as ambassadors for environmental health at home, school and in their communities.
The Environmental Health Department used the occasion to remind residents of practical steps to reduce mosquito populations: inspect properties regularly, eliminate standing water, properly cover water storage containers and maintain clean surroundings. The Ministry of Health and Social Development also congratulated the winners and thanked all participating students, parents and educators for their support.
Mosquito control remains a key public-health priority in the British Virgin Islands. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes prefer small collections of clean water to breed and are efficient carriers of viruses that can cause serious illness. Regular household checks — emptying containers, clearing gutters, checking plant saucers and ensuring water tanks are sealed — can significantly lower local risk.
The competition and public reminders aim to keep mosquito prevention on residents’ minds throughout the year and to encourage community action that protects everyone, especially children, the elderly and those with underlying health conditions.
Primary source: VINO