Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown has challenged the Island's school children to name the first new ferry which is scheduled to arrive in October.

Dr. Brown was joined by members of the Transportation Team at a press conference yesterday where he announced the competition would begin on Monday and was open to all school children.

He said the first ferry was currently under construction in Massachusetts and was on schedule.

Dr. Brown said that in order to encourage as many children as possible to enter, incentives had been made possible thanks to a public/private partnership between Government, C Travel and US Airways, and the person who thinks of the winning name will win two round trip tickets to Orlando, Florida.

The winner will also be given five passes for bus and ferry travel for one year, and a family dinner hosted by Dr. Brown at a restaurant of their choice.

A committee which will include Dr. Brown will select a few names and these will be put in a box for a draw to take place on May 18, the same day Parliament opens for the summer session.

"There will be no second or third prizes -- winner takes all,'' joked Dr.

Brown.

Dr. Brown said the project will cost nearly $25 million for the docks and boats and said his Ministry was proud of the progress they had made so far which he said would not have been possible without the hard work of the entire team.

He also said the ferries were being constructed to provide "optimal luxury'' and said there would be no economy class as it would be first class from beginning to end.

"There are no limits as long as it is in the guidelines of decency, and preferably it will not be a tree or a bridge,'' said Dr. Brown.

Dr. Brown took a moment to criticise Shadow Transport Minister, Erwin Adderley for calling the project a "pipe dream'' and said: "Pardon me while I dream.'' Entry forms to name the new ferry are available at the Hamilton Ferry Terminal, at schools or in the newspaper.

The `Name The Ferry Contest', is open to students from pre-school to senior school only and entry forms must be submitted by close of business on Tuesday May 15.

EDUCATION ED