Orion Academy has emerged as the first champion in round one of the Inter-Secondary School Debate competitions. In a spirited competition held yesterday, January 17, 2024, at the Alliance Française de la Dominique, Orion Academy engaged in a debate with their opponents, Castle Bruce Secondary School (CBSS), tackling the topic “The privatization of the energy sector in Dominica is the only way to realize efficient service.”
Following the debate and rebuttal, featuring Orion Academy’s Dymond Daniel and Hafsah Francois advocating the topic, and their counterparts, Princess George and Rhian St. Ville of CBSS opposing it, the results were announced, declaring the ladies of Orion Academy as the victors of round one.
The scores showcased Orion’s dominance, amassing a total of 646 points, while CBSS secured a commendable 627 points. This achievement propels Orion Academy into the next round of the competition, where they will engage in a debate on the topic: “Carnival celebrations in Dominica have become hypersexualized and no longer embrace local
culture and tradition.” They will be taking the opposing stance on this viewpoint.
Dymond Daniel was not only part of the winning team but also received the prestigious award for Best Speaker. Her eloquence, clarity, poise, and command of the material earned her this recognition. Princess George of CBSS was acknowledged for delivering the best rebuttal during the debate.
Post-competition, speaking to Dominica News Online (DNO), the winners expressed their excitement and revealed their meticulous preparations since the start of December.
They pledged to put their best foot forward in the upcoming rounds with the ultimate goal of bringing the crown home to Orion Academy.
The debate will continue today, January 18, 2024, with Isaiah Thomas Secondary School (ITSS) proposing and St Martin Secondary School opposing the topic: “There should be legislation introduced to restrict people from smoking in public spaces.” This event is scheduled to take place at the Alliance Française de la Dominique from 2:30 pm.
Adding an extra layer to the excitement, a friendly debate will take place on the same day between reigning champions Arthur Waldron Seventh Day Academy, St Mary’s Academy, and the Dominica Grammar School (DGS). The topic of discussion will be whether there should be a sex offenders registry introduced in Dominica.
The competition recommences on January 19, 2024, at the UWI Global Campus Dominica, starting at 2:30 pm. The proposing team for this round will be Wesley High School, while the opposing team will be the Convent High School. The focal point of their debate will be on the topic, “Dominican students who receive government assistance to pursue higher education overseas should be obligated to return home for a set period after they have completed their studies.”
All Schools succeeding in this round will progress to round two of the competition, scheduled for February 22 and 23, 2024.
The second annual Inter-Secondary Schools Debating Competition, which was revitalized after a lengthy hiatus, is organized by the Dominica State College with support from partners and generous sponsors. Dominica News Online will continue providing live coverage of the debate for the remaining days.
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