THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade is encouraging fifth and sixth formers enrolled in public high schools to submit entries in its essay competition focusing on diplomacy.

Launched Tuesday, May 1, the competition is part of the ministry's 50th anniversary celebrations and seeks to educate young people on the importance of internationl relations.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade is like the face of Jamaica to the world so we want to widen the knowledge of the work we do and of whole international arena and diplomacy among our young people," ministry spokesperson Ann-Margaret Lim told Career & Education.

She added that the ministry is seeking to develop a relationship with the nation's youth as a means of broadening its recruitment field for the future.

Guidelines for the essays are as follows:

1. The word limit is 1,500 words on one of the following topics:

* What is the role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade in helping Jamaica achieve its development objectives?

* What do you envision Jamaica achieving, through its diplomatic relations, over the next fifty years of its existence?

* "Jamaica is a small country with a very big presence in world affairs" - Myth or reality?

2. All entries must be submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, 21 Dominica Drive, Kingston 5, or electronically, to informja@cwjamaica.com addressed to Miss Ann-Margaret Lim, Head, Public Relations and Media, no later than 12:00 noon Friday, July 6, 2012.

3. Complete contact details must be included with the entries as the winners will be selected during the summer while school is on holiday.

4. Children of employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade are ineligible for participation in this competition.

5. All entries will be judged by a panel comprised of senior officers at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and a senior faculty member of the University of the West Indies, Mona.

The first-place winner will be awarded a five-day, all-expense-paid trip (flight, hotel accommodation and stipend) to New York in October 2012 to participate in the United Nations General Assembly as an observer with the Jamaican Youth Delegation. The prize will also cover the costs of transporting and accommodating a chaperone.

For second place, the prize is a month's internship at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade during the summer of 2013, while the third-place winner will receive book vouchers to cover textbook expenses for the September term.

Queries can be directed to Ricardo Alicock at the ministry at 936-0930.