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TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS PLACES 2nd IN TOURISM DEBATE 2023
#TurksandCaicos, July 27, 2023 – The National Tourism Debate was held in Montego Bay, Jamaica on 3 July 2023. The Turks and Caicos Islands participants were Antwan Butler, Esther Joseph and Kiajé Williams of the national champions of Clement Howell High School. Schools from three different nations used the Zoom platform to compete in a series of debates leading up to the final on 3 July 2023. Defending champions, The Bahamas, did not participate in this year’s event. Wolmers High School for Girls from Jamaica and Leon Hess from St. Lucia both sent representatives.
The finals saw the Turks and Caicos Islands team, coached by Ms. Keisha Carter, proposing the motion “This house
St. Lucia won with 660 points, just ahead of Turks and Caicos Islands (606), demonstrating the intensity of the competition and a slim margin of victory. Sandals Resort, the event’s sponsor, provided each team’s coaches with a free weekend stay at any of their properties in the Caribbean.
The Minister of Education Hon. Rachel Taylor, stated that “we understand the importance of steering young creative minds into the tourism and hospitality industry and the expansion of such youth programs affords this opportunity. As organizers of this event, supported by the Ministry of Tourism, we are achieving the expected synergy and stirring the critical conversation among the youth. Congratulations to Team TCI.”
In conveying congratulatory remarks, Hon. Josephine Connolly, Minister of Tourism stated that “such collaborative efforts foster capacity building and increase awareness of the interrelationships that exist because of tourism. Our youth are truly a part of the process and events such as these will only attract them to the industry.”
The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Tourism will continue to support this initiative and congratulates all participants including, students, teachers, coaches and officials of both Ministries.