Sat | Nov 9, 2024

Manning’s again!

Westmoreland school secures third Junior Tourism Minister title after Taj Melbourne victory

Published:Thursday | July 25, 2024 | 12:09 AMCarl Gilchrist/Gleaner Writer
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Taj Melbourne delivering his winning presentation on Tuesday at Beaches Ocho Rios.
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Taj Melbourne delivering his winning presentation on Tuesday at Beaches Ocho Rios.
Charles Blacher (left), general manager of Beaches Ocho Rios, congratulates Hassan Smith (centre) and Taj Melbourne while bringing greetings at the final.
Contributed
Charles Blacher (left), general manager of Beaches Ocho Rios, congratulates Hassan Smith (centre) and Taj Melbourne while bringing greetings at the final.
Beaches’ Sesame Street character, Elmo, congratulates the winner, Tal Melbourne (left), and runner-up Hassan Smith after the competition.
Contributed
Beaches’ Sesame Street character, Elmo, congratulates the winner, Tal Melbourne (left), and runner-up Hassan Smith after the competition.
Keynote speaker Donovan White, director of tourism, presents Taj Melbourne with his winner’s plaque and a Dell laptop at the end of the competition.
Contributed
Keynote speaker Donovan White, director of tourism, presents Taj Melbourne with his winner’s plaque and a Dell laptop at the end of the competition.
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THE MANNING’S School in Westmoreland secured its third consecutive victory in the annual Junior Minister of Tourism Competition when 16-year-old Taj Melbourne captured the 2024 title in the finals at Beaches Ocho Rios in St Mary on Tuesday.

In 2022, Sanecia Taylor won the public-speaking competition for Manning’s, with Deja Bremmer repeating the school’s success in 2023.

On Tuesday, Melbourne finished ahead of 15-year-old Hassan Smith, also of Manning’s, and will represent Jamaica at the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) Youth Congress in the Cayman Islands.

Lyndsay Isaacs, regional public relations manager at the competition’s sponsors, Sandals, said the consistent excellence demonstrated by Manning’s was “truly inspiring” and augurs well for the future of tourism in the Caribbean.

“We are proud to support this competition that nurtures the next generation of tourism leaders,” Isaacs said.

Melbourne expressed delight at the victory.

“I am extremely grateful and excited to be this year’s winner,” he said. “The competition has been an incredible learning experience, providing invaluable insights into Jamaica’s tourism industry,” he added. He said he is looking forward to the experience to be gained by representing Jamaica at the youth congress and other activities during his tenure as junior minister.

Melbourne received the winner’s trophy, a certificate, a Dell laptop, and a day pass for four to Chukka Caribbean Adventures, while Hassan Smith picked up a certificate, a Samsung Galaxy tablet, and a day pass at Chukka as his prizes.

The staff adviser for the finalists, Shalia Lewis also received recognition for her role in preparing the students. She said the institution was thrilled to win the title for the third consecutive time.

“This achievement reflects our commitment to excellence in tourism education and the dedication of our students and staff. We will continue to set the bar high and promote active participation in the Tourism Awareness Action Club at our school,” Lewis pointed out.

Donovan White, Jamaica’s director of tourism, praised the finalists for their high-quality performance, stating that both Melbourne and Smith demonstrated exceptional growth and commitment.

“Their presentations showed a deep understanding of Jamaica’s tourism sector and its challenges. We are confident that they will be outstanding ambassadors for Brand Jamaica, using their knowledge to highlight the vital importance of tourism to our island,” White said.

The competition is open to students age 15 to 17 who are members of their school’s Tourism Action Club.

At this year’s final, each student delivered a three-minute speech on their chosen tourism-related topic and then answered a question from the panel of judges.