(Eleuthera, Bahamas) – On Friday morning, March 24th, 2017, a stunned Tillia Leary of Rock Sound, who is a student of Windermere High School, won the 2017 title of Jr. Minister of Tourism for the island of Eleuthera. As the announcement was made, the sizeable contingent of her family members and friends in the audience expressed their delight and excitement over her win. She takes up the baton from last year’s winner, Christina Moss of Harbour Island All Age School. She was one of a large group of competitors, nine young ladies in total, who battled it out with well researched and prepared speeches on the topic, “Strengthening Cultural Heritage for Tourism Growth.”
Coming in a very close second and third, was Jerrimia Seymour of Central Eleuthera High School, and Sierra Colebrook of North Eleuthera High School, respectively. As the new representative for the island, Tillia will now go on to take part in the national Jr. Minister of Tourism Speech Competition, scheduled for April 6th, 2017 at the Breezes Resort in New Providence, where finalists from islands throughout the Bahamas will go head to head for the overall Jr. Minister of Tourism title.
This year’s Jr. Minister of Tourism Speech Competition in Eleuthera, was held at the Cancer Society’s Wellness Center in Palmetto Point, beginning at 11am on Friday morning. The nine competitors included; Tillia Leary of Windermere High School (Winner – 439 points); Jerrimia Seymour of Central Eleuthera High School (Second Place – 432 points); Sierra Colebrook of North Eleuthera High School (Third Place – 431 points); Sibyl Bennett of Samuel Guy Pinder All Age School; Chianti Allen of Harbour Island All Age School; Torkell Saunders of Harbour Island All Age School; Junette Deveaux of North Eleuthera High School; Crystal Wilson of Central Eleuthera High School; and Christina Adderley of Preston Albury High School.
Mrs. Deborah Young-Fox with the Ministry of Tourism team in Governor’s Harbour, was the key organizer of the event, and was supported by her colleagues; Ms. Jacquelyn Gibson, Tourism Manager based in Governor’s Harbour; Ms. Glenda Johnson; Mrs. Donnalee Miller, Ms. Kay Bethel; and Mrs. June Dean, Tourism Manager based in Harbour Island.
