Commencement Ceremony held for MOT Tourism Cadet Corps Programme 2007/2008
October 18, 2007
St. John's, Antigua
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A cross-section of the 2007-2008 Tourism Cadets during the Commencement Ceremony
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The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Cadet Corps programme reconvened earlier this week, with a commencement ceremony that saw the introduction of 35 newly recruited cadets to the 2007/2008 programme.
The cadets, ranging from ages 15 - 18 were recruited from secondary schools throughout the island, with students from the Antigua Girls High School, Antigua Grammar School, Christ The King High School, Pares Secondary School and the Premier School successfully gaining entry into the Corps.
Speaking at the Commencement Ceremony, Minister of Tourism Harold Lovell, in his feature address applauded the students for taking the first step in learning more about Antigua and Barbuda's dynamic tourism product and challenged them to seriously consider the industry as a viable career option. "The industry is ever-changing, becoming more and more competitive. To compete successfully the product offerings must be constantly and consistently be enhanced. You therefore can bring to the industry your creative and innovative thoughts and energies."
Tourism Education Training and Awareness Manager in the Ministry of Tourism Cynthia Simon noted that the programme provides cadets with a clear understanding of the country's main industry.
"The programme is considered an integral part of the Ministry of Tourism's strategic intervention to ensure that Antigua and Barbuda possesses a cadre of creative, capable and qualified nationals to create a sustained and competitive tourist industry".
Also present at the ceremony was Acting Junior Minister of Tourism Andrena Athill, Antigua and Barbuda's representative at last year's Caribbean Tourism Organization's Youth Congress in The Bahamas where she received the Bronze for her presentation.
A recent graduate of the Tourism Cadet Corps programme, Athill urged the upcoming Cadets to embrace the industry and learn as much about it as possible. Athill also used the ceremony as an opportunity to hand over the title of Acting Junior Minister of Tourism to fellow Cadet Lynda Ozuomba who will attend the Youth Congress next week in Puerto Rico.
Other congratulatory remarks were presented by Minister of Education Bertrand Joseph as well as Barbara Arrindell of the Antigua and Barbuda International Literary Festival, who awarded deserving Cadets with scholarships to the festival's Youth Day on November 2.
The Tourism Cadets meet every Wednesday at the Multi-Purpose Cultural Centre and is sponsored by the Caribbean Union Bank. Discussions and research on tourism topics, hospitality clinics, seminars and workshops, destination tours, tourism projects, personal development sessions and work experience/internship programmes, all make up part of the year-long programme.
