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| Students and teachers of the Charlestown and Lynn Jeffers Secondary Schools. |
CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (April 25, 2007) -- For the first time in the history of the Travel and Leisure Caribbean Tourism Organisation's Youth Congress, a Nevisian student will represent the island to perform the role of Junior Tourism Minister.
The successful student will join other counterparts from the Caribbean at the seventh annual Congress later this year.
At their first meeting at the Old Manor Hotel in Gingerland on Friday April 20, 2007, Premier and Minister of Tourism and Education the Hon. Joseph Parry told the six participants representing the three Secondary schools on Nevis, that his visit with them was meant to give encouragement, as they prepared to debate among themselves the topics which had been assigned to them.
He urged them to take the debate seriously, to seek assistance from as many informed persons as possible to ensure a debate of a high standard.
"I want you to do your best. All of our resources are available to you. I want you to get all the help you can not only with facts but your elocution, your delivery, posture, facial expression etc& Seek advice from Ministers of government as to how to debate as ministers of government. My government is committed to embracing health and wellness tourism and intra-regional tourism, so you can get lots of help," he said.
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| Students of the Gingerland Secondary School |
Mr. Parry also directed the participants to page nine of The People's Agenda, which outlined the Nevis Reformation Party led Nevis Island Administration's way forward for tourism on Nevis.
The participants were Ms. Pamela Dias and Ms. Candi Beauregard who represented the Lynn Jeffers Secondary School; Ms. Khalin Nisbett and Ms. Ashlee Paris of the Charlestown Secondary school and Ms. Shaniele Skeete, Ms. Felecia France and Ms. Sheshena David represented the Gingerland Secondary School.
Meantime, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism Mr. Tyrone O'Flaherty during brief remarks told the participants that their participation in the event was a step to self improvement and an exciting investment.
"This is a great step on the road to self improvement because while I am a great believer in students beating books we have a great system of education I am proud of it but I feel that sometimes too much emphasis is placed on just beating books and passing subjects. And so instead of creative thinkers, you become just regurgitaters of information&
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| (L-R) Mr. Joseph Wiltshire Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Mrs. Jennifer Hodge Chief Education Officer, the Hon. Joseph Parry Premier and Minister of Tourism and Education, Mr. Tyrone OFlaherty Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Ms. Vanessa Webb Research and Development Officer. |
"So here you have an opportunity to be creative. You are going to a conference where you are going to participate in discussions some of which you will have prepared but some of it you are going to have to react to as well. It is more than just a debate, it is an opportunity to exercise your mind and because of that I think you are on the right path," he said.
According to Ms. Vanessa Webb, Research and Development Officer in the Ministry of Tourism, in preparation, the participants would be involved in an informal local Youth Congress on April 27th at the Nevis Cultural Centre from 10am. However, in preparation, the Ministry allowed the students interact with each other ahead of the local congress and engage them in a number of educational sessions in relation to the topics.
Over last weekend they were also treated to an educational tour, breakfast at Nisbet Plantation Inn and visited a Spa.
Also present at the introductory meeting on Friday were Mr. Joseph Wiltshire Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Ms. Elmeda Brookes former Director of the Research and Development Unit in the Ministry of Tourism and Mr. Andrew Garden. ~~adz:Right~~
