A promising young student from Leon Hess Comprehensive Secondary School has claimed the top honor at Saint Lucia’s annual National Tourism Public Speaking Competition, earning the prestigious title of 2026 Junior Minister for Tourism. 10 competitors from secondary schools across the island took part in the annual event, held on July 2, and after rigorous evaluation by a panel of expert judges, 16-year-old Tiffany Jn. Jaques secured the first-place position, the Saint Lucia Department of Tourism officially announced in a press statement this Thursday.
The annual National Tourism Public Speaking Competition was created to engage young people in the island’s core economic sector, providing a platform for secondary school students to demonstrate their industry knowledge, critical thinking abilities, creative problem-solving, leadership potential and public communication skills to a panel of industry judges. Unlike standard academic competitions, the contest encourages participants to develop concrete ideas for the future of Saint Lucia’s tourism, a sector that accounts for a large share of the island’s national GDP and employment.
According to the Department of Tourism’s official announcement, Jn. Jaques stood out among the 10 finalists through her sharply articulate presentation, confident stage presence, and well-researched, forward-thinking vision for balancing continued tourism growth with long-term environmental and social sustainability for the sector. Her unique perspective on engaging youth in tourism development resonated strongly with judges, earning her the highest overall score across all competition categories.
In her new role as 2026 Junior Minister for Tourism, Jn. Jaques will serve as an official youth ambassador for Saint Lucia’s tourism industry. Her core responsibilities will include leading outreach efforts to build tourism awareness among peer groups across the island’s secondary schools, and she will also represent Saint Lucia as an official youth delegate at this year’s Caribbean Tourism Organisation Youth Congress, a regional gathering that brings together young tourism advocates from across the Caribbean to discuss collective sector challenges and opportunities.
Two other young competitors rounded out the event’s top three rankings: Chayah Robinson, a student from Vieux Fort Comprehensive Secondary School, claimed the second-place position, while Aiden George of Saint Mary’s College took third place. The Department of Tourism extended formal congratulations to all 10 finalists who competed in this year’s event, noting that every participant demonstrated impressive passion and insight for the future of the island’s tourism sector.
The department also offered special thanks to the secondary school principals, teachers, family members and community supporters who provided guidance, preparation and encouragement to all competing students, crediting this collective backing as a key factor in the competition’s continued success year over year.