Hailee Harding is New Junior Minister of Tourism

Hailee Harding, a 16-year-old student from Graydon Sealy Secondary School, has been named the new junior minister of tourism for Barbados. The announcement was made yesterday at the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc’s Barbados Tourism Youth Congress 2024, held at the Hilton Barbados, Needham’s Point, St Michael.

Harding’s victory was the result of her hard work and the unwavering support of her family, friends, teachers, and well-wishers. In an emotional speech, she expressed her gratitude to everyone who had her back throughout the competition.

“So many people had my back behind this and all I could think about coming into this [competition] was how I didn’t want to let those people down; how I wanted to give them something to be proud of and how I wanted to carry their support with me all the way. I was always thinking that I can’t aim for first place if I want to do well. I have to aim to go regional and that’s what I was thinking the entire time,” Harding said, fighting back tears of joy. “What my teachers said really did come true: It really did take a village [to raise a child].”

Mikkel Robertson of Alexandra School placed second, while Malika Straker of the Lester Vaughan School came third. Other contestants included Dalinda Maynard of Princess Margaret Secondary School, Jaydn Gill of Harrison College, and Makayla Lowe of The Ellerslie School.

Harding will represent Barbados at the Caribbean Tourism Organisation’s (CTO) Regional Youth Congress, where she will compete for the regional junior minister of tourism title during the CTO’s State of The Industry Conference in the Cayman Islands in September.

Last year’s winner, Jordan Grieg of Harrison College, who encouraged her to “take opportunities and put yourself out there”. Grieg also advised Hailey to make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to amplify the voices of many other youths and get them involved in the tourism sector.

Andrea Franklin, the chief executive officer of BTMI, described the final as an “exciting” event and expressed her hope that many of the students would pursue careers in the tourism industry. She emphasised the importance of engaging Barbadian youth in critical tourism matters and stimulating greater awareness and meaningful discourse regarding the industry.

The Tourism Youth Congress not only provides first-hand experience of Barbados’ unique product but also encourages visitors to make the island their “perennial destination of choice,” Franklin said, stressing that the competition plays a crucial role in shaping the island’s future tourism leaders, ensuring that today’s youth become tomorrow’s decision-makers who will directly influence the sector’s sustainable expansion.

(BGIS/BT)