~Radulphus College takes home both wins~
WILLEMSTAD/PHILIPSBURG:--- On June 26, 2025, the Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten (CBCS) presented the Best Economic Research Award to the winners of the 2025 edition. This competition was open for students from Curaçao and Sint Maarten at HAVO and VWO level. For the second time, both the HAVO and VWO level winners are from Radulphus College. The winners of this year’s competition are Girvey Gosepa and Zia-Marie Martel at HAVO level and Fabian Sicking and Ricardo Winkel at VWO level. The CBCS holds this annual competition to stimulate economic research among students on particularly the economies of Curaçao and Sint Maarten. At the start of the competition, the CBCS visited several schools in Sint Maarten and Curaçao, to provide valuable information as well as guidelines for the submission. The CBCS received a total of 8 entries, 4 at HAVO level and 4 at VWO level, on topics including the risks of shadow banks, international banking, local investments, consumer protection and the Caribbean guilder. Just like previous years, the submissions were evaluated by an expert panel of judges with a wide range of knowledge on economic, fiscal, and monetary issues. Submissions were evaluated on research methodology, originality and creativity, writing skills, layout, and relevance, according to the academic level of each category. During the ceremony on June 26, the winners gave a short presentation on their research and received questions as well as valuable feedback from the judges, after which they received their trophy. The winners at HAVO and VWO level received a prize of 2,500 Cg, and the winners' school received a 5,000 Cg cash prize per winner. Girvey Gosepa and Zia-Marie Martel (HAVO) received the Best Economic Research Award for their research paper titled "De macht van sociale media op bedrijven." Fabian Sicking and Ricardo Winkel submitted their paper titled "International banking en online gaming”. The CBCS extends its best wishes to all participants for continued success in their future studies and careers. The competition for Bachelor and Master level is still ongoing. Although the deadline for submission has passed, the winner for these levels is planned to be revealed in July, with a similar ceremony following shortly after. The prize for Bachelor level is set at 5000 Cg, while the master level winner will be granted 7500 Cg.
Willemstad, June 27, 2025
CENTRALE BANK VAN CURAÇAO EN SINT MAARTEN
