WorldSkills Jamaica and Studica robotics camp closes with Singapore, China among winners

WorldSkills Jamaica and Studica Canada closed the WorldSkills Jamaica and Studica Robotics Invitational Camp 2026 with awards and certificates after five days of robotics training, competition and cultural exchange in Jamaica.

The closing ceremony was moderated by Julia Smiley Green, communications officer for WorldSkills Jamaica. Charlene Moan, team leader for WorldSkills Jamaica, opened the proceedings with prayer, giving thanks for the week of learning and asking for guidance for young innovators moving on to international competition in Shanghai.

Derek Murphy, general manager for Studica Robotics, told participants the camp had compressed months of preparation into less than a week. He said the training exposed competitors to most of what they will face in competition and also helped organisers refine tasks that test participants while building their skills.

Dr Cheryl McClining, deputy managing director for the national programmes and training division at the HEART/NSTA Trust, said the week had been productive and also valuable for cultural exchange. She noted that participants had formed friendships, shared music and dance, and gave high-school students a chance to see where technical skills can take them. She urged young people to give skills training serious consideration, saying it can open doors beyond Jamaica.

Certificates of completion were presented to competitors and experts from Barbados, Brazil, China, Singapore and Jamaica. The programme featured six teams from five countries across two skill areas.

In autonomous mobile robotics, Jamaica placed third with Rajan J. Puzzy and Antonio Rolong. Brazil finished second, represented by Gustavo Alves and Arthur Barud, with Wallace Filipe supporting as expert. Singapore won the category with competitors Espen Mong Hun and Ray Chu, supported by expert Week Chu.

In unmanned aerial systems, Barbados competitor Somaya Allen placed third. Jamaica's Omar Cockett took second, while China won first place.

Special tokens of appreciation were also presented to country representatives, interpreters, media workers and Studica Canada representatives, including James Taylor and Derek Murphy, for supporting the camp.