Techinnah Yacinthe Is Barbados’ New Junior Minister Of Tourism
The Lodge School’s Techinnah Yacinthe is this year’s Barbados Junior Minister of Tourism.
Miss Yacinthe became the new Junior Minister following her participation in yesterday’s Barbados Tourism Youth Congress Competition organised by the Product Development Department at the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI).
She was awarded a trophy and sash, a winning school banner, a $1,000 donation to the Lodge School, a $3,000 scholarship, $600 in cash, and a laptop compliments Promotech. In addition, she will represent Barbados at this year’s Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) Regional Tourism Youth Congress on October 7, in Barbados.
“I’m really in shock. My hands are still shaking. It is a great feeling to … be able to represent Barbados and the young people of Barbados and my school as well,” Techinnah said after receiving her prizes. She encouraged other students to enter the initiative next year.
“I would like to say that regardless of your age or your school, I believe that you can add to tourism and to the future development of tourism. So, don’t be afraid to come out and represent your school,” she advised.
BTMI’s Programme Officer, Marsha Armstrong, who oversees the initiative, shared that the Barbados Tourism Youth Congress is an annual, national initiative open to students between the ages of 14 and 17. It includes workshops and an island tour, focusing on themes like sustainability and digital transformation.
She explained that as part of this year’s congress, students simulated a CTO Board of Directors meeting and prepared a three-minute response on a selected topic. They also responded to a mystery question about Barbados’ tourism product.
BTMI’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Andrea Franklin, who spoke on behalf of the Minister of Tourism and International Transport, said the initiative aimed at creating a greater understanding of the sector and developing future tourism leaders.
“Today’s culmination of Youth Congress forms part of the wider youth development strategy to sensitise the island’s children to the significant role which tourism plays in our nation’s development, in recognising that our young people will be the future architects of the tourism sector and sustainable expansion.
“The Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. launched the “all about tourism awareness” programme in February of this year, which has thus far reached over 500 students. As the BTMI team works towards building out the programme to target secondary schools, the Barbados Tourism Youth Congress is indeed a complementary initiative to these plans,” CEO Franklin stated.
She highlighted that this year’s competition saw a significant increase in candidates, with a record 17 participants from 12 schools, with 11 speakers and six substitutes. Those schools were: Alexandra, Christ Church Foundation, Coleridge and Parry, Ellerslie Secondary, Graydon Sealy Secondary, Harrison College, Princess Margaret Secondary, The Lester Vaughan, The Lodge School, The St. Michael School, and the Daryll Jordan Secondary, which participated for the first time in the event.
Ms. Franklin commended the students for adequately representing their schools during the proceedings, expressing the hope that they would consider the event as a starting point to becoming future agents of change within the tourism sector.
Second place went to Narisha Ashwanauth from Harrison College, and third place to Coleridge & Parry Secondary School’s Talesa Boyce. They both expressed their pride and gratitude for their achievements, while acknowledging the support they received from their teachers, parents, and friends.
Author: Sheena Forde-Craigg