Kyle Ramdeo wins Conde Nast Essay Contest in Trinidad and Tobago

Eleven-year-old Kyle Ramdeo of Orange Field Hindu School, Carapichaima has been selected by the Conde Nast Traveler as Trinidad and Tobago’s essay finalist in the 14^th annual Conde Nast Traveler, “My Caribbean” essay contest.

School children from among the 32 Caribbean Tourism Organisation members were asked to submit a 250-word essay on the following topic:

“Imagine that you are a travel journalist and have been assigned to write a story about your country for CNT. Remember that our motto is Truth in Travel, and we aim to go beneath the surface to show people more than just the usual tourist spots.”

The essay contest, sponsored by Conde Nast Traveler and the Caribbean Tourism Organisation and facilitated by the Tourism Development Company (of Trinidad and Tobago) Limited (TDC), is used as a tool to educate elementary school children on every Caribbean island between the ages of 8-12 about the importance of tourism to their country’s economy as well as to broaden their spectrum of life’s opportunities.

This year, Kyle will be among many other finalist from the Caribbean region , all of whom will be presented to the Caribbean Tourism Conference in Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas, from October 22-24th , 2006. The overall winner from the region will receive a special certificate from Conde Nast Traveler magazine to commemorate his/her achievement as well as a U.S $2,000.00 award.

As a form of recognition, the TDC also awarded four semi-finalists for a job well done. Zachary Subran Ganesh of Chaguanas Government Primary copped the second prize and Aleem Khan of Madras Government Primary School took third place. Nikolai Beharry of Chaguanas Government Primary claimed the fourth place and Christina Delpino of La Pastora Government Primary was awarded the fifth place.