Orion Academy emerges winner of last debate in Round 2 of Inter-Secondary Schools Debating Competition

On Friday 23rd February the last debate in a series of debates of Round 2 of the Inter-Secondary Schools debating competition was held

The event started at 2:30 pm at the UWI’s Auditorium. Two schools participated in this debate. On the proposing team were Thérése Le Blanc and Nia Williams representing the Convent High School. The opposing team consisted of Dymond Daniel and Éhjadi Maxwell representing the Orion Academy.

The topic for this debate was, “Carnival celebrations in Dominica have become hypersexualized and no longer embrace local culture and tradition.”

The first speaker of the proposing team, Thérèse Le Blanc spoke strongly on her belief that Carnival celebrations in Dominica have in fact become hyper-sexualized and no longer embrace the local culture and tradition. Le Blanc spoke on the importance of Ole Mas in our culture and identity as Dominicans. She said, “Ole Mas reflects these roots of our Dominican culture primarily through the use of costume groups, which endures us to elements of our ancestral culture. Such as local groups, like ‘Black Devils.’”

In her speech, she mentioned that though carnival is expected to evolve, it should not override and wipe out traditional roots. She expressed disappointment that these traditional activities that are fundamental to our culture are slowly collapsing due to individuals’ priorities to take part in what’s profitable but not culturally oriented.

The second speaker of the proposing team, Nia Williams spoke of the recent rise of trending songs that are sexual in nature. Williams stated, “ It would be incorrect of me to say that sexually masked songs were not part of our culture.” She continued, “Calypso and other bands such as WCK masked the explicit contents of a song by being less descriptive. However, present-day Bouyon artists show no restraint regarding the usage of graphic lyrics in their songs.”

Speaking for the opposing team was Dymond Daniel with her defending argument that Carnival in Dominica is not just celebrated on Carnival Monday and Tuesday but is a month-long event that comprises a wide variety of traditional and cultural activities.

Daniel expressed, “Carnival celebrations are over a month long and include over twenty events which are absolutely not sexual in nature, and are enjoyed by both young and old.”

She continued that these events include the Calypso shows, various pageantry, and Kalinago Tewe Vaval.

After much reasoning, The Orion Academy emerged winner with a total of six hundred and fifty-nine points and Convent High School second, with six hundred and thirty-two points.  The Best Speaker award was presented to Dymond Daniel of the Orion Academy. When interviewed on how she felt about her win she stated, “I’m really happy about this win, we worked really hard with interviews and practicing and I’m glad that it worked in our favor.”

Second speaker of the winning debate team was asked if his stand on the debate remains the same, Maxwell responded that he does believe that Carnival is becoming more sexualized but not hyper-sexualized.

The next round of debate will be the semi-finals which is scheduled for March 18.

Major sponsors of the Inter-Secondary Schools Debating Competition are Josephine Gabriel & Co. Ltd, Fine Foods Inc (KFC), Lindo Mart, Dr. Joshua Lloyd & Mrs. Karyncia Joseph Lloyd, DBS Radio, and DNO. Prizes for this debate were sponsored by Sweet Novelties (HHV Whitchurch), Freeman Consulting Inc, and Lovelee Things.