Kristin Martin Named Jr. Director General for Grand Bahama Island

On Thursday, March 7th, the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation’s (MOTA) Training and Education Department held its annual Jr. Minister of Tourism Preliminary Speech Competition on Grand Bahama Island (GBI) at the Grand Lucayan Resort.

With a total of nine competitors, each student presented their unique ideas on the topic “Transforming Tourism with Digital Technology.”

Karenda Swain, Assistant Manager, Training and Education, MOTA, GBI, said, “In the past we had the title Jr. Minister for each island, but within the past three years or so we have decided to adjust the title, given that we only have one Minister of Tourism...So, the committee decided to have a Director General for each island.”

As in years past, the preliminary competition served as the main component for selecting Grand Bahama Island’s newest Director General.

The winner would then go through additional training sessions, be acquainted with the Grand Bahama Island tourism team, undergo a full immersion in the nation’s tourism industry, and compete in New Providence against contenders from other islands for the esteemed title of Jr. Minister of Tourism.

Eager to bring forth innovative suggestions, each competitor stood before three members of the Toastmasters organization who judged for elocution, eye contact, stage presence, and execution prior to the students taking part in a surprise table topics segment.

After approximately two hours of competition, Kristin Martin of Bishop Michael Eldon School (grade 11) was pronounced the winner of the preliminary speech competition.

Martin remarked, “I was provided with a great opportunity and it feels good to know that I was able to take that opportunity and use it. I went to every language teacher in my school; they worked on my speech; I practised my speech and I made sure I mastered it.”

“I’m expecting stiff competition [in Nassau] because they will be regular [students] just like me with great speaking skills, so I know I will have to bring my game.”

This year’s competition was sponsored by S & D Coach Tours, Pirates Cove Zipline & Waterpark, Freeport Decorators, and The Grand Lucayan Resort.

The Ministry of Tourism and Aviation would like to congratulate all competitors for their hard work, including Sharriah Meadows – Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Academy (second place); Moesha Foster- Tabernacle Baptist Academy (third place); Samuel Knowles - Eight Mile Rock High School (men’s speech award); Alissa Kemp – St. Georges High School; K’Shura Hanna - Sunland Baptist Academy; Aaron Farrington – St. Paul’s Methodist College; Douglas Higgs - Jack Hayward High and Janae Brice - Grand Bahama Academy.

Each competitor was selected by their respective school administration and further interviewed by members of the Ministry of Tourism’s team to narrow the list of competitors. Interview scores were compiled with scores from the preliminary competition in order to select the winner.

Martin will travel to New Providence on March 28th to compete for the title of Jr. Minister of Tourism.