Janica Adams of the Antigua and Barbuda College of Advanced Studies (ABCAS) has been selected as Antigua and Barbuda's new Junior Minister of Tourism, following her victory at the National Tourism Youth Congress Competition held Thursday at the Sir John E. St. Luce Financial Center.
Adams, a former Tourism Cadet and Leeward Islands debating champion, distinguished herself among eight competitors representing secondary schools across the island. Pete Charles of the Sir Novelle Richards Academy earned first runner-up honours, while Soleil Williams of the Antigua Grammar School placed second.
The competition required students to present on one of four tourism-related topics during the first round, with three minutes allotted for each presentation. A mystery topic was then introduced, giving participants one minute to prepare and one minute to present.
As the national winner, Adams will advance to represent Antigua and Barbuda at the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Youth Congress, held in conjunction with the State of the Tourism Industry Conference. The regional event brings together tourism ministers, policymakers, academics, and private-sector leaders from across the Caribbean, exposing student participants to high-level discussions on the future of regional tourism.
The programme has a strong track record. Many former participants have gone on to careers in tourism, government, law, communications, hospitality, and international relations, establishing it as an important pipeline for developing the Caribbean's next generation of tourism leaders. For Antigua and Barbuda, participation also offers students a platform to showcase the nation's tourism products, culture, sustainability initiatives, and vision before a regional audience.
Tourism Minister the Hon. Charles Fernandez, a guest of honour at Thursday's competition, extended congratulations to the newly selected junior minister. "The Tourism Youth Congress continues to provide an invaluable platform for developing the next generation of tourism leaders, and today's winner has proven to be an exceptional ambassador for Antigua and Barbuda," Fernandez said. "I congratulate our new Junior Minister of Tourism on this well-deserved accomplishment and commend all the students who participated in this year's competition. As you prepare to represent our nation, I encourage you to embrace this opportunity with confidence, knowing that your voice will help shape conversations about the future of tourism in our region."
The 2026 CTO Tourism Youth Congress is scheduled to take place in Georgetown, Guyana, from October 5 to 9.
Congratulations are also extended to the remaining participants who represented their schools at Thursday's forum: Jahniya Cornelius of St. Mary's Secondary School, Danae Foster of Christ the King High School, Julissa George of All Saints Secondary School, Deanna Lando of Clare Hall Secondary School, and Kayleigh Martyr of the Divine Academy of Excellence.
The Antigua and Barbuda edition of the Tourism Youth Congress is organised by the Tourism Education, Training and Awareness Department within the Ministry of Tourism, headed by Manager Tracey Browne.
