Glenmuir High takes early lead in Junior Minister of Tourism Public Speaking Competition

The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) has congratulated 16-year-old Glenmuir High School student Nathan Clarke on topping the first round of the Junior Minister of Tourism Public Speaking Competition. The event, which was held on July 10 at the AC Hotel Kingston, attracted 14 entrants. Clarke will be joined in the finals by Govaunia James of Manning’s School, who placed second, and ThaeJadore Kerr of Montego Bay High School for Girls, who placed third.

“The Junior Tourism Public Speaking Competition remains a critical human capital development platform that allows us to not only educate but engage students on our sector. It provides a space for them to utilise their creativity and innovation, and this is needed for the evolution and future-proofing of the sector,” said Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett.

 The trio will compete for the Junior Tourism Minister title this Friday, July 24, 2026, with the winner going on to represent Jamaica at the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) Youth Congress in Guyana, October 5–9, 2026.

“This year’s field was very competitive, and it says a great deal that Nathan, Govaunia, and ThaeJadore rose to the occasion. This programme is nation-building in its clearest form. It is an intentional effort of the JTB to shape the tourism professionals of tomorrow and produce world-class young communicators. It is the product of deliberate mentorship, disciplined preparation, and a national pride our students carry onto every stage they enter,” said Donovan White, Director of Tourism.

Nathan Clarke, having topped the first round, was rearing to go to the finals. “I walked into round one believing I could win, and I am proud that the work paid off. Glenmuir has a tradition of excellence, and I felt a responsibility to carry that forward. I am even more focused heading into the finals. Representing my school is a real honour, and I intend to give it everything I have,” shares Clarke.

Lucretia Green, Manager, Tourism Information Centre at the Jamaica Tourist Board, also lauded the students for their hard work. “The students spoke with confidence and conviction, delivering speeches that were well researched.  This competition continues to show the best of Tourism Action Club members, whom we are grooming into young tourism ambassadors. It is rewarding to witness their passion and dedication, not just to win, but to represent their country on the regional stage. The finals are going to be a showdown, given the high standard of the first round.”

The competition is staged by the JTB’s Tourism Awareness Unit in partnership with Sandals Resorts. Students delivered three-minute presentations on selected topics before a judging panel, followed by a one-minute response to an unrehearsed mystery question. Jamaica’s 2025 representative, Caleader Lewison, placed second regionally at last year’s CTO Youth Congress — a result this year’s finalists hope to build on.

The public speaking competition is open to students between the ages of 14 and 17, who must be members of their school’s Tourism Action Club to participate. This year’s stagings draw on the CTO 2026 Regional Tourism Youth Congress topics: Multigenerational Travel Product Development, Social Media & Sustainable Destination Management, Cultural Industries & Tourism Innovation, and The New Age of Tourism Professionals. Clarke’s winning presentation addressed The New Age of Tourism Professionals, while James and Kerr both presented on Social Media & Sustainable Destination Management.

Other schools that participated in round one included St Hugh’s High School for Girls, Morant Bay High School, Jose Marti Technical High School, St George’s College, Knockalva Technical High School, Womler’s Trust High School for Boys, and Dunoon Park Technical High School. Each student received a certificate and a gift bag for participating.