PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Tourism & Economic Affairs Hon. Ted Richardson would like to congratulate first place winner 10-year-old Diya Sachdev and third place winner 15-year-old Donna Ferreira in the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Children's Environmental Poster Competition.
Students are asked to create a poster that visually depicts at least three ways to help protect the environment and promote environmental awareness in their country.
The competition's purpose is to promote and stimulate environmental awareness among students and to effectively educate the younger generations on the importance of environmental protection.
Each country submitted one poster per age category – junior ages 12 and younger and senior ages 13-16 – to represent its finalists. The FCCA then judged those entries to select winners based on their creativity and messages advocating the role each destination plays in preserving the environment.
13 destinations throughout the Caribbean and Latin America region took part.
"Congratulations to the two winners, Diya and Donna, for an artistic job well done. You have made us all proud of both of you. The conservation of our environment is very important for tourism.
"Tourism has the potential to increase public appreciation of the environment and to spread awareness. Tourism can also contribute to environmental protection, conservation and restoration of biological diversity and sustainable use of natural resources.
"Consumers and the business sector have a role to play in this for the long-term sustainable development of the country. For example, the hotel and marine sectors as well as other tourism service businesses must operate in a manner that minimizes their environmental impact.
"We all must work together in an environmentally sustainable way to make a positive impact on our environment and that of our planet," Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation and Telecommunications Hon. Ted Richardson said on Sunday.
The prizes entail an educational scholarship and a donation to the child's school to purchase art supplies.
