Attorney-at-law and Caribbean beauty queen Wendy Fitzwilliam will deliver a keynote address at UNFPA, United Nations Population Fund 2003 Caribbean Media Awards at the Hilton Kingston in Jamaica this Friday.

The 1998 Miss Universe from Trinidad and Tobago, and a UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador, will speak on the subject of “Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights”, the theme of this year`s event which has attracted strong interest from regional reporters and editors.

 

The 31 year-old Fitzwilliam, who is currently Vice President of Business Development of the Property and Industrial Development Company of Trinidad and Tobago (PIDCOTT), has joined the many famous faces who have been appointed UNFPA Goodwill Ambassadors and serves as a UNFPA Face to Face Campaign Spokesperson. Through the years she has demonstrated a strong commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS and the associated stereotypes in the Caribbean and the world.

 

Six of the Caribbean region’s top journalists will be honoured at the awards ceremony with cash prizes totaling US$6,000 and airline tickets and hotel stays for stories which deal with curbing the spread of HIV/AIDS, curbing early initiation of sexual activity, fostering behavioural change, promoting gender equality, ending sexual exploitation (including sex tourism) or dealing with population, poverty reduction and sustainable development.

 

Master of Ceremonies for the event is Emmy award-winning journalist Doug Hoyte, a former news anchor and political reporter with WTSP-TV, the ABC affiliate in Tampa, Florida, and News Director of WTOG-TV, St. Petersburg, Florida. He is currently the Director of Corporate Communications and Guest Services at Almond Resorts in Barbados. Award-winning Jamaican youth personalities Jody-Anne Maxwell, the first and only non-American to win the US Scripps Howard Spelling Bee Championship, and Shaun Ashley, recently named the Top Boy in the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) will announce the winners.

 

Senator Delano Franklyn, Jamaica`s Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, will bring greetings from the Government of Jamaica, while the dynamic youth group, ASHE, will make yet another stirring cultural presentation.

 

Chief Judge Tony Best, an international editor, and panel moderator Ian Williams, chairman of the awards committee of the United Nations Correspondents Association, will both be in attendance.

Related stories on Caribbean Weekly:
(04/08/03) UNFPA Announces 2003 Caribbean Media Awards
(20/08/03) EU/UNFPA Sign Argreement with Suriname Government
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