This year’s Bartica Regatta queen, 18-year-old Amel Griffith, is passionate about the elimination of human trafficking, the social ills, on which she based her platform.
Griffith was crowned Miss Bartica Regatta in the wee hours of yesterday morning, the Department of Public Information (DPI) reported, noting that the teen was visibly shocked by the announcement.
“The expression on her face when the first runner-up was announced, said it all. Even while still in shock, the new queen stood regal and calm, while her supporters in the audience wasted little time in chanting her name,” DPI reported.
She was among eight other contestants vying for the crown, in a competition that judged them based on talent, their swimsuit and evening gown display and their responses during the question and answer segment.
Griffith, for her talent piece, performed a dance that represented her human trafficking platform. On her platform, she told DPI, she believes every life is important and that no one should be held against their will. “I want to help eradicate the scourge of human trafficking,” she stated.
With regards to the Q&A segment, DPI said that when asked what she would do to improve the lives of women in Bartica were she to become an ambassador, Griffith said that she would host programmes and workshops to educate women and empower them about their worth. They reported that her response “sent the audience in a frenzy and convinced the judges to award her the title of queen.”
Tonya Harris and Jurusha Farell were awarded the first and second runners-up, respectively.
Other delegates in the competition were Shania Khan, Joyann Wong, Tenicia De Weaver, Adeola Sutherland, Sabrina Persaud and Soma Lindore.
