Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA)

Pembroke Pines, FL (February 28, 2007) – The FCCA is happy to announce the winners of their 2007 FCCA Foundation Children’s Environmental Poster Contest. Over 14 destinations participated this year, and each student exemplified Caribbean excellence and expressed their useful depictions of ways in which to preserve the environment.

Our competitionpromoted and stimulated environmental awareness among Caribbean students, while effectively educating our younger generation on the importance of environmental protection. It showcased the participants’ ability, creativity, and consciousness of the world around them.

This year’s 1st place winners were Josie Lee age 10 from Belize Elementary School in Belize (Junior Division) and Rajesh Harnarine, age 14, from Presentation College in Trinidad and Tobago (Senior Division). Each first place winner, along with his/her classmates, are invited to attend an event hosted by FCCA in their respective destination, along with a scholarship for the amount of $3,000 US.

One of the primary aims of the contest was to assist students in furthering their education through the provision of a monetary scholarship. Second place finalists were eleven-year-old Shadell Carrington from Barbados in the Junior Category and fifteen-year-old Nidia Georgina Anaya Vargas from Mexico in the Senior Category. Third place winners were ten-year-old Gaspar Manzano Vila from Mexico and fifteen-year-old Brian Acuna Madriz from Costa Rica. Second place winners will each receive US $1,500, and third place winners will receive US $1,000.

Created in 1972, the FCCA is a not-for-profit trade organization that provides a forum for discussion on tourism development, ports, safety, security, and other cruise industry issues and builds bilateral relationships with destinations’ private and public sectors. By fostering an understanding of the cruise industry and its operating practices, the FCCA works with governments, ports and private sector representatives to maximize cruise passenger, crew and cruise line spending, as well as enhance the destination experience and increase the amount of cruise passengers returning as stay-over visitors. For more information, visit F-CCA.com and @FCCAupdates on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.