Marking the beginning of the national debate season, the preliminary round of the 2026 Inter-Secondary Schools Debating Competition officially kicks off today, Thursday, January 22.
As per a press release, Trudy Christian, the event organizer, confirmed the start of the annual competition, noting that the first round will determine which teams advance based on their performance.
The event promises spirited intellectual contests among the island’s leading secondary schools, with only the top-scoring schools moving forward.
Today’s opening debates feature six schools debating the motion:
“Local communities should have veto power over projects that significantly affect their environment.”
The schools participating in this initial round are Orion Academy, Isaiah Thomas Secondary School, Wesley High School, St. Mary’s Academy, Convent High School, and Arthur Waldron Seventh-Day Adventist Academy.
Debates resume on Friday, January 23, with three additional schools discussing the motion:
“The legal driving age in Dominica should be lowered to increase youth independence and national productivity.”
The schools competing on Friday are Castle Bruce Secondary School, St. Martin Secondary School, and Portsmouth Secondary School.
Following the preliminary round, the highest-scoring schools will move on to Round Two, where they will face the defending champions, Dominica Grammar School. Out of the nine schools participating in this initial phase, only seven will qualify for the next stage.
Christian expressed her enthusiasm about the excitement and public engagement surrounding the event, which will be held at the Upper Campus of Dominica State College starting at 2:00 PM. She also encouraged spectators to attend or to watch the live stream via Dominica News Online and Emo News.
She extended her gratitude to the sponsors, particularly the main sponsor Josephine Gabriel & Co. Ltd., for their ongoing support, saying that their contribution is vital in fostering youth involvement and promoting meaningful national dialogue.
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