Tobago has once again stamped its mark.. on the regional tourism stage. Sixteen-year-old Jolè St. John.. of Bishop's High School.. has emerged as the winner.. of the 2025 Caribbean Tourism Organisation's Regional Youth Congress, held in Bridgetown, Barbados.
00:00The Caribbean Tourism Organization's Youth Congress in Barbados has ended with a major win for Tobago.
00:08The winner of the 2025 Regional Tourism Youth Congress is the junior minister, the junior secretary of tourism for Tobago.
00:27At just 16 years old, Jolie St. John, serving as junior secretary of tourism for Tobago, impressed judges with her innovative presentation on heritage tourism, proposing living history experiences to bring the island's culture to life.
00:45When the results were called, I immediately broke down in tears. I was very emotional in my reaction.
00:52But right now that I'm more composed, I can definitely say that I feel a sense of gratitude to God, first of all, and to the team that works with me to ensure that I got this far and was successful at the Regional Tourism Youth Congress.
01:05And I'm overjoyed that Tobago is making a name for themselves because Tobago has been a force to reckon with in the Regional Tourism Youth Congress for the past couple of years and we copped first place for yet another year.
01:18Her mother, Treselia St. John, says her daughter's achievement is a testament to discipline and humility.
01:25It's a remarkable victory for us, but most importantly, we continue to remain humble and thankful to God.
01:32I am really proud of Jolie's ability to deliver, to think critically and to also respect her peers and move with humility as she spends the week with them.
01:43Since Tobago's first appearance in the competition in 2018, the island has built an impressive record, consistently finishing among the top contenders, including wins in 2022 and now again in 2025.
01:58I must commend all of the junior ministers, the junior commissioners. They really brought their A game today and, you know, they have been such great junior ambassadors for their destination.
02:08But I could tell you that Jolie was certainly a cut above the rest, the poise that she displayed.
02:13I told her, you have to hit three main things. You have to have the content, you have to have the confidence, and you have to have the conviction.
02:20And she hit those three things out of the pack, and I think that is what set her apart.
02:24For her outstanding performance, Jolie was awarded an educational scholarship valued at US$2,500, a US$2,000 Future Innovators Fellowship, an all-inclusive paid trip to a CTO event in 2026, and several high-tech prizes, including a laptop and iPad.
02:45It's a win that not only highlights her talent, but also reaffirms Tobago's growing reputation as a powerhouse in the Caribbean Youth Congress.
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