Antigua and Barbuda’s representatives at the CTO Conference in the USVI View photo »

Crystal Jeffrey and Samuel Nurse were finalists at the 28th CTC Caribbean Tourism Conference held in St. Thomas, USVI from October 23-26, 2005.

Antigua's representative to the Conde Nast "My Traveller" Essay, 10 year old Samuel Nurse, came out a winner in the local competition held earlier in the year, judged by a panel of recognised literary professionals.

The Freetown School student's, essay on the topic of environmental preservation of Antigua and Barbuda captured the interest of judges, however was unable to capture the winning positions which were taken by St. Eustatius, followed by Dominica and Anguilla.

The country's representative for the CTO Travel & Leisure Youth Congress was 17 year old Barbudan, Crystal Jeffrey of McChesney George Secondary School. Ms. Jeffrey was Junior Minister of Tourism for Antigua and Barbuda at a simulated CTO Tourism Ministers Meeting held in the presence of hundreds of supporters, media and general delegates of the Conference.

Ms. Jeffrey chaperoned by Mrs. Cynthia Simon was able to convince her counterparts of the need for "responsible tourism" in the Caribbean following a series of development sessions held in both Antigua and Barbuda by the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Education and her trainer Ms. Cleo Isaac in Barbuda.

"The exposure was great, I was able to meet a wide range of people from every Caribbean country at the Conference, and sampled some of St. Thomas' hospitality," said the National Debating Champion of the Cable and Wireless 2004/2005 series in Antigua and Barbuda.

Minister Harold Lovell congratulated the duo for ably representing our twin island destination at the event. "I was very impressed with the quality of writing and debate that was evident in our entries to this competition. As a heavily dependent tourism society we must ensure that our youth are fully aware of the issues affecting our success."

Winner of the Travel and Leisure Youth Congress was Justin Sealy of Barbados with representatives from St. Maarten judged first-runner up and second runner-up being St. Vincent. St. Kitts Junior Minster earned honourable mention.