The Tribune

TALIAH Cooper made history when she won the Junior Minister of Tourism competition on March 27, becoming the first Family Islander to capture the coveted Junior Minister of Tourism title.

Ms Cooper, an 11th grade student of Preston Albury High School in Eleuthera, was one of 14 students from around the country who advanced to the finals of the competition, which was held at Breezes resort.

Her win brought the four-year Patrick S Bain Scholarship tenable at the College of the Bahamas, an all-expense paid trip for four days to the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Youth Congress, $500, a computer courtesy of Micronet, a phone courtesy of BTC and a trophy.

Additionally, her high school will receive $500 and a floating trophy.

During her tenure, Ms Cooper said, she intends to take the business of tourism further into the school system.

“My plan for this year is to push tourism to not only high schools, but into the primary schools as well because if we can start from the bottom with the little kids we can show them that tourism is actually very important in our country,” she said.

Ms Cooper also emphasising the need for young Bahamians to know how important it is to be a responsible ambassador with a good attitude.

“We have to train our young children from very young to be able to talk to tourists and show them that Bahamians are very nice and enthusiastic people,” she said.

Fontella Knowles, vice-principal of Preston H Albury School and the speech coach of the new Junior Minister, was confident that Ms Cooper would excel in her new role.

“It is not only an accomplishment for our school, but also for our island, and I know she will make our country proud as an ambassador,” Ms Knowles said.

CR Walker Senior High School’s Larissa Smith secured second place in the speech competition and walked away with $300 cash prize, a computer, cellphone and a plaque. Dava Major of Grand Bahama’s Catholic High School rounded out the top three and also won cash and assorted prizes. Before the 2014 competition, all winners were residents of either New Providence or Grand Bahama.