Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Kerrie Symmonds, presenting Kya Knight with her award for winning the 2018 Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Children’s Essay Competition. (C. Pitt/BGIS)
Students at the Deighton Griffith School interrupted morning assembly with loud cheers and applause when one of their peers, Kya Knight, was awarded US$3000.00 for winning the 2018 Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Children’s Essay Competition.
Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Kerrie Symmonds, presented Kya with her cheque. She also won her school US $3, 000.00, which was presented to Deputy Principal of the Deighton Griffith School, Wendy Lewis.
Minister Symmonds praised Kya’s performance, stating her hard work and diligence had paid off. He lauded the teachers and staff of the school for their input and cooperation. He also encouraged the students to follow in Kya’s footsteps.
“I want all of you to try your best to do what Kya has done. I want you to spend your days, when you have a little free time, thinking about this industry that is so important and critical to Barbados’ future.
“As Minister of Tourism, I feel that we have one problem in this country. And that problem is that we are not including enough of you, the children in Barbados; you who are the future, as part of what we do in tourism. If tourism is going to work for Barbados, it means you are going to have to carry tourism for the years to come.”
Deputy Principal Wendy Lewis said the school would continue to sensitize its students about the various aspects of tourism and how to play their part.