“Snap and Share” competition 2025: Akawaio woman cops $500K top prize

A tender moment frozen in time, a photograph of a toddler, full of innocence and wonder, has touched the hearts of thousands across the nation. Captured by Jasia Cornelius, the image took top honours in this year’s ‘Snap and Share’ photography competition. The winning photo, which depicts a one-year-old Akawaio child standing in an open field in Omenaik Village, Imbaimadai (Region Seven), received the highest number of likes among the 59 shortlisted entries. Cornelius was awarded a $500,000 cash prize, a DSLR camera valued at $400,000, courtesy of the Ministry and a weekend for two at Karanambu Lodge, courtesy of Karanambu.

At the prize-giving ceremony held on Monday, Cornelius shared the story behind the image. “This one time I went in the savannahs with my one-year-old niece and I wanted to capture that moment. I took that picture. I didn’t know that simple photo would bring me here. I am grateful today that I was selected.”
This year’s competition stood out as the largest edition since its launch by the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce in 2021. With a record-breaking 1,600 applicants, the event reached new heights—now offering a $500,000 grand prize, thanks to increased sponsorship.

Launched as part of Guyana’s Independence Anniversary celebrations, the competition invites locals to capture and showcase the nation’s rich cultural and natural beauty. Submitted images are uploaded to the Ministry’s platform, where the public can vote for their favourites.
Speaking at the event, Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister, Oneidge Walrond, highlighted the competition’s significant growth and its role in promoting national pride and tourism. “This year, images from the competition garnered a staggering 60.8 million views globally, with the majority coming from Guyana, the United States (US), Canada, Suriname and Brazil. We also saw nearly 400,000 reactions. This means people were actually engaging—with likes, shares and comments. These are not just statistics; they represent global exposure for our destination and communities. Images are powerful.”
She went on to share some of the standout entries that helped boost Guyana’s visibility. “The photo of petting a capybara, which you can do at a ranch—I’ve done it myself—received over 220,000 views. Another image showing the making of cassava bread in Aruwa garnered nearly 200,000 views. These are real impressions, real potential visitors, and real economic opportunities for those communities.”

Strengthening tourism sector
Walrond emphasised the importance of marketing Guyana’s tourism potential through initiatives like ‘Snap and Share’.
“One of the major components of attracting visitors—and you’ve all seen the uptick in tourism and the activity around that growth—is effective marketing. When we were looking for innovative ways to market Guyana, this initiative stood out. You are the ones taking the photos. You are the ones building the network.”
She also reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to strengthening the tourism sector through ongoing investment in marketing, training, product development, infrastructure and community-owned and led initiatives.
“We want to ensure that communities and everyday citizens benefit directly from our growing tourism industry,” she said, noting that more than 65 tourism products have been introduced to the travel marketplace over the past five years—many from regions that had never previously hosted tourists.
With more areas becoming accessible, she announced that an adventure tourism analysis is currently underway to help develop and package new experiences across the country. As the grand prize winner, Jasia Cornelius earned not only national recognition but also a significant reward for her impactful visual storytelling.
The second-place winner received $300,000 in cash—an amount that actually surpasses last year’s top prize—along with a trip to Kaieteur Falls, courtesy of Evergreen Adventures. The third-place winner walked away with $150,000 in cash and an exciting ATV tour, courtesy of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA). For fourth place, the winner was awarded $100,000 and a sunset tour, also sponsored by the GTA. The fifth-place winner received $75,000 in cash and a sunset tour for four people, allowing the winner to treat an entire group, courtesy of Offroad Experience. In sixth place, the winner was awarded $30,000 in cash along with a restaurant voucher valued at $30,000 from Car Lodge—enough to enjoy a truly luxurious dinner. Those who placed seventh through tenth each received $30,000 in cash, which again, is more than what the top winner received in the competition’s early years. Participants who placed between eleventh and thirtieth received $25,000 in cash. A special “People’s Choice” award was also introduced this year, recognising the entry that garnered the most engagement from the public.