Julia V. Beresford, a tenth-grader at St. Croix Country Day School, has been selected as the finalist of the 1999 Florida-Caribbean
Cruise Association (FCCA) Children’s Essay Contest.
The theme of this year’s essay contest was "What Can My Country Do To Attract More Cruise Passengers?"
According to Acting Commissioner of Tourism Monique Sibilly-Hodge, U.S. Virgin Islands students were asked to identify ways in which the government, organizations and individuals who are directly or indirectly involved in the cruise tourism sector can attract more cruise passengers to their destination. The finalist is submitted to the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association to compete Caribbean-wide.
Beresford, 16, was born on St. Croix. She was selected as the finalist last year and finished second in the competition.
To better answer her latest essay question, Beresford went to the end of the Frederiksted dock on St. Croix. In her essay, Beresford said, "Some ideas came to mind immediately, such as renovating the historic buildings lining Strand Street, planting trees for shady areas in which to rest and enjoy the beauty of the sea, and creating a cultural scene around Fort Frederik."
She cited other areas for improvement, which included expanding dock space; sprucing up the waterfront and downtown areas; recreating historic lifestyles; greeting passengers adorned in traditional clothing;
entertaining passengers with Quadrille dances, scratch bands, mocko jumbies,
and steel pan players; and increasing advertising.
"There is so much that my island has to offer to visitors," Beresford said. "It has been hidden for so many years. The culture and history of the island needs to be brought back alive. I believe that once some of these changes are made more cruise passengers will soon be flowing into the island."
Sibilly-Hodge said, "Julia Beresford is such an insightful young lady. She was recognized last year aboard the Carnival Destiny with a
luncheon and an award presentation for her outstanding accomplishment of placing second. St. Croix, you should keep your eye on Julia, she is destined to be a one of the valuable contributors to the economic growth of St.
Croix."
The essay competition involves two age categories. Category 1 represents ages 12 and under, and category 2, represents ages 13 through 16. No entries were received in Category 1. Beresford’s essay will now compete with other essays from across the Caribbean in Category 2.
If she wins the first place prize, she’ll receive a $2,500 cash scholarship and the St. Croix Country Day School will receive a cash award of $1,250 from the FCCA. In addition, the first place winners, in each age
category, will attend the Sixth Annual Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association
Caribbean Cruise Conference in Puerto Rico on October 5-7, 1999. The two winners will read their essays at the opening ceremonies.
