Johnson receives Children’s Essay Contest 2011 prize: US$3,000

Ten-year-old Trevonette Johnson, a student of the New Grounds Primary School, was on Monday presented with a cheque of US$3,000, her prize for winning the junior division of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association’s (FCCA) Children’s Essay Contest 2011.{{more}}

Trevonette has just returned from Puerto Rico, where she read her essay in the presence of some of the tourism industry’s most important players at the FCCA Caribbean Cruise Conference, which was held from October 3 to 7.

She was presented with her cheque by Minister of Tourism Saboto Caesar during a brief ceremony at the Ministry of Tourism Conference room in the National Insurance Building in Kingstown. In addition to Trevonette’s winnings, her school, the New Grounds Primary School, was also awarded US $3,000.

Students participating in this year’s competition were invited to write an essay on the topic: “What does sustainable tourism mean to your destination?”

Donet Johnson, Trevonette’s mother, told SEARCHLIGHT that she is very excited about her ten-year-old daughter’s achievement.

Caesar, who also attended the FCCA Caribbean Cruise Conference in Puerto Rico, said that he was overwhelmed by Trevonette’s presentation to the audience.

“I must say that I was an extremely proud Vincentian to sit there in Puerto Rico and listen to a ten-year-old speak in front of a hall of strangers, and she spoke very eloquently there,” he said.

Headteacher of the New Grounds Primary School Sheldon Govia said that the organizers of the essay competition, the FCCA, must be commended for giving the students the opportunity to express their writing skills on such a relevant topic.

“We know the problem that we face locally, regionally and internationally regarding current economic crisis and its impact on the Tourism industry.

“To have students expressing their feelings on what Tourism means to them was appropriate,” Govia said.

He also indicated that it was the first time that the New Grounds Primary School has participated and won the competition.

“I once again want to congratulate Trevonette for doing her best. There were other students, but she came out on top.”

With regard to the cash prize that was awarded to the school, the headteacher said that the school does not have any ongoing project that requires the use of the funds, “but the staff will decide how the money will be spent at the school”.

This year’s essay contest attracted entries from 19 countries. The aim of the contest is to assist students in furthering their education while letting them think about their own destinations, its involvement in the tourism industry, and providing an opportunity to problem solve for the real world.(AA)