Eight Barbados students received awards at the 2025 Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Children’s Essay and Environmental Poster Competition awards ceremony. The awards ceremony will be held on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at St. Held at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, Two Mile Hill, Michael, students were rewarded for their creativity and passion for tourism and environmental sustainability.
Andrea Franklin, CEO of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI), said: “Our team at BTMI was very pleased with the quality of the entries we received, which provided a variety of creative ideas on how we can protect our natural ecosystem for the enjoyment of future generations of Barbadians and visitors alike.” She added: “Given the importance of tourism to our island, the Children’s Environmental Poster and Essay Competition plays a pivotal role in encouraging interest in this field among young people.”
2025 Winners
The list of 2025 FCCA competition winners is as follows:
poster contest
- Poster Competition (Junior Division) – 1st Place: Laila Alleyne of Springer Memorial School
- Poster Competition (Junior Category) – 2nd place: Jazarah Brewster-Lewis from St Jude’s Primary.
- Poster Competition (Junior Category) – 3rd place: Kemani Eagle Hall Primary holder.
essay contest
- Essay Contest (Junior Division) – 1st Place: Shaydon Lewis of The Lodge School
- Essay Contest (Middle School Category) – 2nd Place: Laila Alleyne from Springer Memorial School
- Essay Competition (Junior Division) – 3rd place: Ethan Burnett from Good Shepherd Primary.
- Essay Competition (Senior Category) – 1st Place: Shaileah Frederick of Combermere School
- Essay Competition (Senior Category) – 2nd place: Tenisha David from Princess Margaret School
- Essay Contest (Senior Category) – 3rd Place: Gabrielle Grant from Daryll Jordan Secondary School
2025 FCCA Competition Information
The competition, which attracted 66 entries, focused on two important papers. In the poster contest, participants were responsible for creating illustrations. The topic was “How to protect the marine environment from land-based activities.” They also had to provide practical solutions to protect Barbados’ fragile ecosystem.
The essay contest required students to write an essay on a related topic. This year’s theme was ‘If I were a cruise passenger, what would I see and do in my country?’ They were also encouraged to think about the unique experiences that made Barbados a destination of choice.
source: Empowering the Next Generation: Big Rewards for Sustainable Tourism Development (Barbados Ministry of Tourism and International Transport)
