The Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation held its 2025 Junior Minister Speech Competition in Grand Bahama on Thursday at the Grand Lucayan resort to choose its newest Junior Director of Tourism finalist, representing Grand Bahama.
The Junior Minister of Tourism national speech competition is open to 11th grade students in government and private schools throughout the country.
Five schools in Grand Bahama competed for the coveted title of Junior Director this year — Tabernacle Baptist Christian Academy, Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Academy, Jack Hayward Senior High, Summit Heights Preparatory and Eight Mile Rock High.
The competition serves as the preliminary round for a chance to represent Grand Bahama as the newest Junior Director of Tourism and move on to the finals in New Providence.
The national winner, Junior Minister, represents the country abroad at the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Youth Congress.
Finalists of various islands serve as Junior Directors for their islands for the remainder of their school year.
The Junior Minister of Tourism wins a cash award and the school floating trophy, and is tasked with duties which include making courtesy calls; shadowing the Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, the Hon. Chester Cooper; and working with the ministry in various departments during the summer.
Xaria Ingraham, who represented Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Academy, emerged the winner of the Preliminary Competition and has been named the 2025 Junior Director of Tourism.
Na’vaija Rahming of Eight Mile Rock High School placed second and Sierra Saunders of Jack Hayward Senior High School took third place.
Nairah Rahming Tabernacle represented Baptist Christian Academy and Terrae Henfield represented Summit Heights Preparatory.
By LEDEDRA MARCHE/Bahamas Information Services
