The Secretary-General’s Trophy for the champions of the Caribbean Community 25th Anniversary Regional Schools Debating Competition has found a home in Trinidad and Tobago.
In a demonstration of oratory skill, six youths of the Caribbean Community faced off in the finals of the debating competition in Suriname on the night of 3 March 1999 at the newly built Congress Hall, located in the heart of the capital city, Paramaribo. After a spirited fight, with dramatic presentations, punctuated with a series of rapturous applause from the audience, the team from Trinidad and Tobago, defeated the team from St. Kitts and Nevis to emerge as champions.
The moot for the finals was “The increased crime rate in the Region is a direct result of the penetration of the foreign media” Trinidad and Tobago proposed while St. Kitts and Nevis opposed.
Trinidad and Tobago argued on the principle of cause and effect, citing a range of studies, both from within and external to the Caribbean, that the media have a significant effect on people. They provided empirical evidence of the increase in the volume of non-Caribbean programming on film and television which portray violence in the form of entertainment.
The team from St. Kitts and Nevis acknowledged that there is a link between media and violence but stressed that there are a range of factors including the break down in family structure and the lack of leadership in a range of institutions, including the church. The team also argued that the legal system must develop a more hardline-position on punishment for crime.
The Trinidad and Tobago team comprised Kersha Edwards, Bhagwandaye Basdeo and Keisha Jack while the team from St. Kitts and Nevis comprised Derwin Christmas, Arnold Viera and Nerssia Williams. The latter team received the prize for the best rebuttal while Kersha Edwards and Derwin Christmas emerged as the best debaters for the series.
The keenness of the competition was evident as the judges took over 20 minutes to arrive at a decision. In the judges’ summary, chief judge, Dr. Alain Hosein, from Guyana commended both teams for a high standard of debate. The other two judges were Marlyne Trotz of Guyana and Michelle Walker from Jamaica. Points were awarded for clear and logical presentation of arguments; relevance of content; originality of ideas; fluency and clarity of speech and teamwork Trinidad and Tobago and St. Kitts and Nevis emerged as champions after beating five teams along the way. The other participating teams were The Bahamas, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana and Montserrat.
The winners received their prizes on the morning of 4 March 1999 at the ceremony of the opening for the 10th Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community. At the ceremony too, Surinamese Olympic gold medal swimmer, Anthony Nesty received his award of achievement, given to sports persons in the Region in recognition of their contribution to the development of the Region through Sport. The awards were handed out at the last regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government in Saint Lucia, July 1998. Mr Nesty was however, unable to attend that presentation.
The competition was made possible with sponsorship from a range of institutions from across the Region. These are, BWIA International, Liat (1974) Ltd, Surinam Airways, The Guyana Sugar Corporation, Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company Ltd, Neal & Massy Holdings, Caribbean Communications Network Ltd, Air Caribbean and Courts Dominican Ltd.
