There was one thing certain about the outcome of Saturday’s Tourism Interschool Debate Tournament Final, and that was that a team from Cayman Brac High School would win.
New Junior Minister for Tourism Nickolas DaCosta from Cayman Brac High School is presented with his trophy by Minister for Tourism Charles Clifford and Junior Minister for Tourism Thea Bush at Saturdays Tourism Inter-school debating finals. Photo: Cliodhna McGowan |
These were the words of Mr. Robert Weishan, Manager Human Capital Development with the Department of Tourism at the inter-school debate finals Saturday morning at the Westin Casuarina Resort.
Mr. Weishan was referring to the fact that the two finalist teams in the competition were from Cayman Brac High School.
The winning team was coached by Devon Bowen, with team members Brendan Wahler, Myfanwy Leggatt and Karthika Velusamy.
In second place was the team coached by Yvette Gayle with members Nickolas DaCosta, Staci Scott and Geoffrey Grizzel.
The debating participant who was nominated as the next Junior Minister of Tourism is Nickolas DaCosta. He received this title as the individual speaker who was given the most points by the judges. Nickolas now goes on to represent the Cayman Islands at the Caribbean Tourism Organisation’s Tourism Youth Congress, scheduled to take place on Grand Bahama Island from October 22 to 25. Accompanying him will be East End Primary School’s Ashley Amador, the Condé Nast My Caribbean Essay Contest finalist for the Cayman Islands along with DoT’s Patrice Donalds.
The Inter-School Debate Tournament is sponsored by the Department of Tourism in conjunction with the Cayman Islands Tourism Association.
Speaking to the participants Minister Clifford noted the importance of debate; that it is essential to democracy and it is the ultimate mind exercise.
After the competition he noted how impressive the speakers had been and that the part they seemed to enjoy most was rebutting each others’ arguments. They had spoken from the heart, he said.
The moot was: ‘Be it resolved that the Cayman Islands does not have a strong enough culinary product to develop Culinary Tourism as a viable addition to our ‘tourism product”.
The team proposing the moot was the one that came in second place. The team said that the Cayman Islands does not have one single dish to entice visitors to spend thousands of dollars here and that most food needs to be imported into the country. Places such as Italy and France are famous for their cuisine purely because their dishes are so diverse. They pointed out that according to DoT visitor exit surveys, tourists come here for reasons such as diving and attractions, but do not cite food as a reason.
The opposing team said that any tourist that looks forward to eating at any of the restaurants on the islands is engaging in culinary tourism.
Abundant natural resources mean that there is room for development in this area and that the Taste of Cayman event, a culinary event, raises thousands of dollars.
The International Culinary Association was quoted as saying that nearly 100 per cent of tourists dine out.
Judges were Cassandra Hibbert of Boatswain’s Beach, Craig Bosio of the Waterford, and representing the Cayman Culinary Society were Vidyadhara Shetty (Hyatt Hotel) and Keith Griffn (Bacchus).
Minister Clifford had high praise for the outgoing Junior Minister for Tourism Thea Bush calling her a role model for other students. The Minister presented her with a $500 cheque for supplies for her course of social studies at the University College of the Cayman Islands. The Minister also noted that she is considering a career in tourism.
Executive Director of the CITA Ken Thompson presented a cheque for $500 to the inter-school debate champions. The winners also received trophies and the runners-up received decorative glass sculptures.
DoT’s Alma McKenzie was chairperson of the event.
Representing the Ministry of Tourism along with Minister Clifford was Acting Permanent Secretary Patricia Ulett.
Time keepers were Alan and Laura Silverman.
The Tourism Inter-School Debate tournament is one of the Department of Tourism’s knowledge and awareness building programmes for year 11 and 12 high school students to develop their understanding of the importance of tourism, and strengthen their analytical, reasoning and communication skills.
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