Kittitian student wins 2007 CTO/Travel & Leisure Youth Congress
~~Adz:Right~~ Basseterre, St. Kitts, 25th October, 2007 - For the second time in the last five competitions, a student from St. Kitts has won the CTO/Travel & Leisure Youth Congress, organised by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO).
Emerald Williams, 15, of the Basseterre High School out performed 16 other Caribbean "Junior Minister of Tourism" to emerge winner of the debate at the 30th Annual Caribbean Tourism Conference (CTC-30) on Wednesday 24th October, 2007.
Before leaving island, Emerald was asked about her feelings on the competition, “ I am feeling a bit nervous to speak in front of so many people but I will try my best,” said Williams.
In reaction to her winning achievement an excited Emerald responded, "I'm just very happy, practically overwhelmed. I worked very hard and I'm pleased that I was able to bring it home for my country, I look forward to getting more youth to understand what tourism is all about and bringing them into the industry."
The 17 high school students, representing their respective countries as "Junior Ministers of Tourism" at the Youth Congress, were challenged to discuss health and wellness tourism and to suggest ways to increase intra-regional travel. They also debated a "mystery topic" which focused on what they learnt at CTC-30.
"I definitely learnt that we have to come together as one Caribbean to fight our challenges," Emerald said told the forum which simulated a meeting of the CTO Board of Directors.
Emerald Williams has won a laptop computer, US$1000 for her school and US$500 for herself. Williams is a close friend of Nisharma Rattan-Mack, the Kittitian student who emerged as the top Junior Minister of Tourism in 2003.
The St. Kitts Tourism Authority’s Human Resource Department, headed by Novelette Morton must be commended for the tremendous support given to Miss Williams in preparing her for the CTO-Youth Congress.
