JUNIOR MINISTER FOR GRAND BAHAMA PINNED - LaTess Bartlett, an 11th grade student of Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Academy, was the winner of the Junior Minister Competition held on Thursday at Grand Lucayan. She was pinned on Tuesday, March 24, as an official Ambassador for ‘the Grand Life, by Director of Tourism in Grand Bahama, Betty Bethel. Shown from left are: Ethelyn Pinder-Dames, senior mistress of the school and LaTess's coach; Karina Swain, assistant manager of training and education at the Ministry of Tourism; LaTess and Ms. Bethel; Dava Major, former Junior Minister for Grand Bahama; and Paula Bevans-Hanna, vice-principal of the school. (BIS Photo: Andrew Miller)
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FREEPORT, Grand Bahama
- Sixteen year old LaTess Bartlett, winner of the Junior Minister of Tourism
competition for Grand Bahama, was officially pinned as an Ambassador of ‘the Grand
Life’ on Grand Bahama by Betty Bethel, Director of Tourism for Grand Bahama at Mary
Star of the Sea Catholic Academy
on Tuesday.
The 11th grade student
emerged the winner over four other participants of the competition held on
Thursday at Grand Lucayan Resort.
According to Ms.
Bethel, LaTess is an "excellent candidate" for the Junior Minister
competition to be held in Nassau, and whether she returns to Grand Bahama as
the overall winner or not, "she is already a winner" and is expected
to participate in Ministry of Tourism activities here.
"We will be using
her in a variety of activities on Grand Bahama promoting the destination as
Ambassador of ‘the Grand Life’ on Grand Bahama Island, so no matter where she
goes in her travels, or whatever her activity leads her as Junior Minister, she
will be representing our destination."
Also present from the
Ministry of Tourism was Karina Swain, assistant manager of training and
education, who said the students participating in the competition were from Mary
Star of the Sea Catholic Academy, Eight Mile Rock High School, Tabernacle
Baptist and Bishop Michael Eldon High School. The competition, she said, was
two-fold -- an interview and an essay on 'Diversifying the Tourism Product.'
She said, "the
students who participated this year were dynamic. The competition was tight but
the overall winner was LaTess and we wish her all the best as she represents
Grand Bahama for the rest of the year when she will give up her reign to
another deserving student."
This bright student
who is also the owner of Chocolatess Island Delight, is so proud to be a
Bahamian, that her chocolate confection is named with items indigenous of her
heritage, such as Pineapple and Mango. She said, "It's really an honour to
win the title. Bahamian tourism is everyone's business so being able to win
this title and to showcase and be an Ambassador for my country is a great honour."
LaTess says she feels
it's an honour to have won, and it shows the youth that you are never too young
to be an Ambassador for your country.