June 2nd, 2015 -- Fourteen year old, Tarana Kacker of the Nevis International Secondary School (NISS), emerged the winner of the 2015 Bank of Nevis Tourism Youth Congress hosted by the Ministry of Tourism. K-Jel Smithen of the Charlestown Secondary School and Kayla Sandiford also from the NISS placed second and third respectively. The event was held on Wednesday 13th May at the Occasions Center at Pinney’s Industrial Site. Other participating students, who deliberated at the annual TYC were Vinicia Gumbs and Sabrina Orr from the Gingerland Secondary School and Shanai Liburd from the Charlestown Secondary.
Participants assumed the role of “Junior Ministers of Tourism” in a round table discussion that mirrors a Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) board of directors’ meeting and presented their views on salient issues impacting the tourism industry. The event comprised two rounds: round one a presentation of prepared speeches and round two a mystery topic round where students were required to speak impromptu. In round one, participants presented prepared speeches discussing the potential of Film Tourism in Nevis and Greening Tourism events. The future leaders impressed the audience with their presentations of innovative ideas for Nevis to pursue in advancing tourism.
Flanked by the six participants, the reigning Caribbean Youth Junior Minister of Tourism Rol-J Williams, a fourth form student of the Gingerland Secondary School, moderated the event. He also recognized the vital contribution of the Bank of Nevis Ltd. in sponsoring the TYC for a fourth consecutive year.
In an opening address that preceded the discussions, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism Mr. Carl Williams spoke to the importance of seeking avenues to ensure that St. Kitts and Nevis continues to grow its tourism industry on which its economic development is pegged.
“One way of ensuring that its health and ultimate survival is maintained is to engage our young, creative minds in meaningful dialogue on matters pertaining to the industry,” Williams said.
Permanent Secretary in the Premier’s Ministry, Mr. Wakely Daniel, also gave brief remarks applauding the students for their excellent accomplishments in winning the TYC regionally.
“Let me also salute Neila Jones and Rol-J Williams for their ‘winning ways’ and for giving us much to celebrate…Thanks much for winning and thank you also for inspiring an entire island, an entire people,” Daniel commented.
Remarks also came from Mrs. Lisa Herbert, Chief Operating Officer, of the Bank of Nevis Ltd. The brief ceremony was ably chaired by Clayticia Daniel, who won the Junior Minister of Tourism title in 2011.
The 2015 Youth Junior Minister of Tourism, Tarana Kacker, will represent Nevis at the Regional Tourism Youth Congress in Curacao in October of this year, during the CTO’s State of the Industry Conference.
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