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Last Updated: Mar 23, 2018 - 11:12:12 AM |
Photo: Kemuel Stubbs
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Nassau, Bahamas - After an intense competition, Khalea Richard of Forest Heights Academy in Abaco is this year’s Junior Minister of Tourism, having beaten 13 other students from around the country.
“It feels amazing, if you told me this morning when I woke up that I would be Junior Minister of Tourism by the end of the day I would have said, ‘There's no way. Maybe second, maybe third but there's no way’”, Richard said.
“It's just an awesome opportunity and I can already tell that I'm going to be able to meet and interact with so many amazing people. I already have and I've only been here for two days. I'm so grateful for the Ministry for allowing this and for giving us this opportunity. All of my competitors, honestly.”
As the new Junior Minister of Tourism, Khalea will not only receive the prestigious title, but also the Patrick S. Bain scholarship, an opportunity to represent The Bahamas at the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Youth Congress in New York City, $500 cash prize and a trophy. Forest Heights will also receive $500 and a floating trophy to commemorate the accomplishment.
Photo: Kemuel Stubbs
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For the first time in the competition’s history, the top three students are all from The Bahamas Out Islands and Grand Bahama.
Second place went to Ketora Clarke of Eight Mile Rock High School in Grand Bahama while Luke Knowles of Long Island’s N.G.M. Major High School was third.
The topic of this year’s competition was “Sustainable Tourism: A Nation’s Plan after the Storm.”
Minister of Tourism and Aviation Hon. Dionisio D'Aguilar encouraged the talented students to consider a career in Tourism.
“Tourism is hot and we are experiencing a wonderful growth, we need the young people of this country to make hospitality management their number one -pick because it is our number one industry and it provides the best opportunities for you when you graduate and you want to return home,” he said.
The Tourism minister was also impressed with the large pool of talent throughout The Islands of The Bahamas.
“Everyone should leave with a sense of renewed optimism about the next generation of young leaders who will take the helm of our number one industry,” D’Aguilar added.
Khalea succeeds Michael Wallace of St. Anne’s High School in Nassau. Her mother, Leazona Bethell, said she’s perfect for the role.
“As a parent you think about your child and you want them to be powerful and that's something that my daughter is, she's passionate about her environment, she's passionate about Abaco, she's passionate about her country and I think she will make a wonderful Junior Minister of Tourism. I think that she will allow other youngsters to see all that The Bahamas has to offer, all of the different opportunities that are available in the industry of tourism and I think she's going to be another good role model for our students and older people as well, she's an inspiration to all of us,” Bethell said.
The speech competition was the last phase of the months long competition. The Junior Minister of Tourism Program offers one candidacy per island. It is open to Bahamian citizens of both government and private 11th-grade students. The 13 other finalists will serve as Junior Directors of Tourism for their respective islands for the remainder of the school year.
In addition to the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation, Bahamas Hotel & Tourism Association, Micronet and Aliv sponsored the competition.
© Copyright 2018 by thebahamasweekly.com
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