The Junior Minister of Tourism Speech preliminary constest for the island of Eleuthera was held on Friday, April 4th, 2025 at the Ministry of Tourism’s offices in Governor’s Harbour.
Five ambitious 11th grade students participated, from three of the high schools within the district, including; Delena Rolle – Preston Albury High School, Emma Moss – Harbour Island All Age School, Deanntae Hepburn – Preston Albury High School, Jaedawn Fritz – Central Eleuthera High School, and Cartier Johnson – Central Eleuthera High School.
The topic presented on during this preliminary contest was, “From Vision to Action: Crafting Unforgettabe On-Island Experiences to Fuel Stopovr Growth and Maximize Revenue.” The competition was fierce. Well prepared speeches, spoke to the time, thought and practice that went into each of the presentations, said organizers. Chief judge on the day was Mr. Prescott Young, Tourism General Manager for Eleuthera, Harbour Island and Abaco.
Island Coordinator for the speech competition, Ms. Deborah Fox, Office Manager, Harbour Island Ministry of Tourism, describing the morning’s battle of words, poise and persuasion, said that she felt all of the students had done a ‘fantastic’ job representing each of their schools.
Deanntae Hepburn of Preston H. Albury High School emerged the title winner, as the new Junior Director of Tourism, representing Eleuthera. As Junior Director, Ms. Hepburn will now compete in New Providence against other Junior Directors from islands across The Bahamas on May 8th, 2025 for the national title of Junior Minister of Tourism 2025/2026.
Ms. Hepburn, in the final showdown on May 8th, will be asked to speak on the topic of The Three New S’s of Caribbean Tourism. She will have to share her insights on three key strategies or innovations that can transform tourism in our islands – with an emphasis on how to integrate smart technologies, ensure sustainable practices, and promote social inclusion to enhance the visitor experiences while benefiting local communities.
