The events and contestants for Junior Tourism Week were revealed at a press conference at Myetts Chill Zone on Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park today, May 30, 2022. Photo: VINO

Recently appointed Junior Minister for Tourism Honourable Alvera Maduro Caines (R6) said that this year, for the 11th time, the BVITB&FC will select a Junior Ambassador of Tourism who will represent the territory in the Annual Regional debating competition- ‘The Caribbean Youth Congress, produced by the Caribbean Tourism Organisation’. Photo: VINO

From front left: Guiding the youngsters in the Tablescaping Competition will be Mr Kareem Nelson-Hull; the Junior Ambassador of Tourism, Ms Natalie Penn; and the Junior Chef Showdown, Ms Natalie O. Hodge. Photo: VINO

Events for Jr Tourism Week

The events will be the BVI Tablescaping Junior Competition (formerly called the Janice Nibbs-Blyden National Table setting Competition), Junior Ambassador of Tourism (previously called the Junior Minister of Tourism Speech Competition), and BVI Junior Chef Showdown.

The events and contestants were revealed at a press conference at Myetts Chill Zone on Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park today, May 30, 2022.

Winners for Junior Tourism Week will be walking away with a total of $10,000 in cash prizes.

BVI Tablescaping Junior competition

The first event will be the Tablescaping Junior competition, which has a 24-year history, making it the oldest of the three competitions. This year the completion will pit six highly trained competitors, paired with professional florists and event designers, to vie for the top prize.

The winner will walk away with a Bamboushay Pottery trophy and a cash prize of $2,500.

This year’s competition will be held at Government House on June 12, 2022, and tickets are $50.

Deshawn Dasilva is paired with ‘Bella Blooms and Contemporary Events’; J’Quelah Callwood is paired with ‘Blossom’s Florist and Beyond the Décor’; Michaela Potter is paired with 'Floral Expressions and Décor At One Stop Mall’; Trishelle Dawson is paired with ‘Nadia’s Interior Designs and Design So Simple’; Raheem Hodge is paired with ‘Creative Creations and DD&S Exotic Creations’; and Beyonce Moore is paired with ‘Stems and Luxe’.

Jr Ambassador of Tourism

Giving some background, recently appointed Junior Minister for Tourism Honourable Alvera Maduro Caines (R6) said that this year, for the 11th time, the BVITB&FC will select a Junior Ambassador of Tourism who will represent the territory in the Annual Regional debating competition- ‘The Caribbean Youth Congress, produced by the Caribbean Tourism Organisation’.

The participants will select from three topics – Agriculture in Tourism (Agro-Tourism), Experiential Tourism, and Community-based Tourism and will deliver a three-minute speech. In addition, they will have a mystery question where they have one minute to prepare a one-minute response.

Participants in this event are Desha Skelton of Elmore Stoutt High School, K’launi Williams of Cedar International School, Khemoe Foy Jr of the BVI Seventh-day Adventist School, Sheudeen Manning of Bregado Flax Educational Centre, Teagan Bishop of Ciboney Centre for Excellence and Angellean Cupid of the Virgin Islands School of Technical Studies.

The winner will represent the territory at the Regional Tourism Youth Congress to the held in the Cayman Islands on September 15, 2022.

This competition is set for June 14, 2022, at Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium in Paraquita Bay. In leu of cash, persons are asked to bring canned goods as their entrance fee. The goods will be donated to Family Support Network (FSN).

Jr Chef Showdown

The other segment will be the live Junior Chef Showdown on June 17, 2022, at Queen Elizabeth II Park.

In the case of the Junior Chef Showdown, which will be the 8th edition, it promises to be an exciting culinary competition as participants vie for the title of the BVI Junior Chef Champion.

According to Hon Maduro-Caines, this will be done, “Through a series of competitions based on culinary themes where judges will make decisions on meals prepared. Unique to this year will be the Beyond the Plate television reality series produced by the BVI Film Commission.”

Aszeke Oliver, Cinique Henry, Rakesheah Young, Kavon Kissnasammy, Liliana Rymer and Steven Spencer will compete for a Bamboushay Pottery trophy and $5,000 cash.

Guiding the youngsters in the Tablescaping Competition will be Mr Kareem Nelson-Hull; the Junior Chef Showdown, Ms Natalie O. Hodge and the Junior Ambassador of Tourism, Ms Natalie Penn.