Twenty lucky customers in the Fogarty’s Mother’s Day Promotion and Essay Competition were yesterday presented with their prizes at a ceremony at the store on Water Street in the city.
There were 17 winners in the Mother’s Day Promotion category and three in the Essay Competition category. Nine -year-old Althea Elias, of Stella Maris Primary School, who lives at  61 Evan Phillips Park, Agricola, East Bank Demerara, copped the first prize in the essay competition, winning herself,  Fogarty’s Gift Certificates to the value of $15,000.  Also winning gift certificates were Vaniesha Ramsaywack and Tashona Peters, both of St. Andrew’s Primary School, adjudged second and third prize winners. Ramsaywack received $12,000 worth of gift certificates and Peters $10,000.  Presentations in that category were made by Laparkan’s Executive Director, Mr. Vibert  Parvatan.
Meanwhile, Mother’s Day Promotion winners were:
* John Moses of University of Guyana who won a chaise lounge.
* Melissa Gomes of  Section “A” Block “X” Diamond, East Bank Demerara – one Daewoo microwave oven.
* Desiree Couchman  of  Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo – one bedside cupboard.
* Arlene Alberts of 147 Lamaha Gardens – a coffee table.
* Abiola Roberts of 96 Friendship, EBD – one centre table
* Jasodra Lall of  Section B Non Pariel, ECD  – one grocery hamper
* June John of 94 Fourth Avenue, Subryanville – one crystal cake stand
* Sabina Khan  of 594 Caneville, EBD – one 4-pc crystal glass set.
* Denise Kipppins of 2059 North Ruimveldt – 3 pcs L’Eau Par Kenzo set
* Sunita Sukhram of 72 Newtown, Enmore, ECD –  2 pcs Kenzo Orgami Gift set
* Mohamey Soman of 58 Zeeburg North, WCD – one Vonair Foot Spa
* Jasmattie Rampersaud of 27 LBI Railway,ECD – one automatic electric kettle
* Gangadai Bissoon of 291 Thomas St. C’burg –  dinner ware
* Narla Friday of 88 New Hope, ECD  – one  electric Oster iron
* Mariska Williams of 39 Middle St., Pourduroyen WCD – one electric single burner stove
* Ruth Jagmohan of 9 Railway Embankment, Industry, ECD – one  Revlon Hair Drier
* Dellyssa Edinboro of  “QQ” 12 Lamaha Park – lunch for four persons
The Mother’s Day promotion, which started on April 26 last, allowed customers with purchases of $3,000 to enter the competition.  Winning coupons were drawn on May 11.
In the Essay competition, children, 12 and under, were invited to write an essay of not more than 150 words, on the topic “Thank You Mother”.  Executive Director, Mr. Vibert Parvatan, in brief remarks to those assembled to witness the presentation, congratulated the winners.
The essay competition, he said, was organised to encourage children to be thankful and appreciative of their mothers.
“Mothers  are  symbolic of true love, patience, kindness and thoughtfulness, and deserve love, attention and thanks for shaping our lives,” he observed.
Parvatan said that the occasion was all about expressing love, which is needed, not only in our homes, but at workplaces, schools, churches and the community.