March 29, 2001 — The tenth annual "My Caribbean" essay contest is now open to all primary grade Virgin Island school students, ages eight to 12, Monique Sibilly-Hodge, assistant Tourism commissioner announced.
The contest, which is sponsored by Conde Naste Traveler magazine in cooperation with the Caribbean Tourism Organization and American Airlines, asks the entrants to answer in 250-500 words: "If a visitor was coming to your country for the first time, what would you suggest they see and do?"
"This year's millennium essay contest is designed to introduce the benefits of tourism to Caribbean children," said Sibilly-Hodge. The contest is open to selected Caribbean countries. The V.I. will select five semifinalists from which one finalist will be picked, and one finalist, along with a chaperone, from each Caribbean country will be invited to the 25th annual Caribbean Tourism Conference in Grand Bahama Island, Oct. 2001.
The winner will receive a $2,000 award and a special plaque, and have his or her essay printed in the Nov. issue of Conde Naste Traveler. After all that, the winner will be flown to the World Travel mart in London in Nov. 2001 where he or she will be guest of honor.
Essays will be judged on the following criteria: knowledge of contest, grammar and structure. Each entry must be in contestant's own handwriting on eight and a half by 11 inch lined paper. It must be accompanied by the following: name of student; home address; name of school; address of school; name of school principal and phone number; country, and student's date of birth.
No faxes will be accepted. Original entries must be submitted to the Tourism Department no later than Friday, April 20, 2001 at 5 p.m. No entries accepted after that time. The original date has been changed to accommodate Carnival leave dates.
Complete essay contest packages can be obtained at the Tourism offices on all three islands. For more information, contact Audrey Callwood at 774-8784 on St. Thomas, or Heather Carty at 773-0495 on St. Croix.
