March 1, 2024
The Caribbean Organisation of Tax Administrators (COTA) launched its Seventh Essay Competition for secondary school students on 19 February 2024.
Students are tasked with exploring the topic: “How can Tax Administrators Adapt to the Challenges of the Rapidly Changing Global Environment?”
The COTA Competition aims at encouraging young people between the ages of 14 and 16 from member countries of COTA to become knowledgeable about the tax administration function as potential taxpayers and future decision-makers, as well as to engender an interest in this field as a career choice. The 2024 Competition is intended also to encourage students to become familiar with the activities of their country’s tax collection authority and to share their views on how tax administrators can adapt their functions to enhance their performance in a rapidly changing national and global environment.
Each country’s tax authority in collaboration with the Ministry of Education will administer the national-level competition. The closing date for the regional-level contest is 17 May 2024.
Students, who have submitted the best essays at the regional level, as well as the schools they attend, will be awarded prizes. This year, winners of the regional contest will be announced in July.
The prizes are: First – US$1,000 and a Trophy; Second – US$700; and Third – US$500.
About the Caribbean Organisation of Tax Administrators (COTA)
The Caribbean Organisation of Tax Administrators (COTA) is one of the Institutions with which the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) collaborates to assist in the areas of Functional Cooperation. It was established in 1971 and aims to foster collaboration and experience-sharing among tax administrations in CARICOM towards efficient and enhanced revenue generation for national sustainable development. Tax administrations in all CARICOM Member States and Associate Members are members of COTA. Saint Maarten is an Associate Member of COTA.
The COTA Essay Competition is a core element of the public education component of the organisation’s work programme, aimed at stimulating broad interest in taxation matters in the Community.