BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – HUNDREDS of students and country supporters from the OECS will converge in Nevis tonight (Feb. 25) for the start of the annual Leeward Islands Debating Competition (LIDC).
Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands (BVI), Montserrat, Nevis and St. Kitts are the six territories vying for the coveted crown, which will be decided over the course of five debates. Teams will present arguments on a wide range of social, political and legal issues, with the winning island receiving bragging rights and the 2010 championship trophy.
Each debate will consist of islands facing off in two-man teams consisting of a leader and partner who will speak for 10 and seven minutes, respectively. Opposing leaders will present a five-minute rebuttal after the written presentations are delivered.
St. Kitts is the reigning and nine-time LIDC champion, a feat unmatched by any other participant in the competition’s 38-year history. This year’s team consists of sixth form students Kasim Queeley, Elsie Harry, Patrice Harris, Ian Carr, and returning members Isalean Phillip and Xavienne-Roma Richardson.
“We’re doing our best and are really proud to be representing St. Kitts,” said Richardson. “It has been a lot of preparation, a lot of work, but that’s because we want to make sure the trophy stays with us.”
She added that the team was looking forward to interacting with like-minded students from across the region.
The debaters attended a cocktail reception hosted by Nevisian Premier Hon. Joseph Parry at Mount Nevis Hotel last evening (Feb. 24) and are set to engage in plenty of other local and cultural activities.
But the focus is now squarely on the competition, as the BVI and Montserrat will discuss the permanent institutionalisation of child sex abuse offenders in the first debate tonight.
Friday’s (Feb. 26) bout will feature host Nevis and Anguilla rationalising whether “The Caribbean Court of Justice is a more viable option than the Privy Council for the administration of justice in the Caribbean.”
On semi-final Saturday (Feb. 27), the winners of the first two debates will examine if “The continuing decline in West Indies Cricket rests squarely on the shoulders of the WICB”. The other finals’ spot will be taken by either St. Kitts or Anguilla after they have gone head-to-head over “When Caribbean Heads of Government sign agreements with controversial leaders, the outcome will be detrimental.”
The topic for the finals on Sunday (Feb. 28) is “The rights ascribed to today’s children have resulted in a marked decline in the levels of discipline in the Caribbean”.
