Latest update December 4th, 2024 2:40 AM
Covent Garden Secondary retains JOF Haynes Regional debating title
(From left) Anzale Gonsalves, Jessica Jagdeo and Kenasha Dey of Covent Garden Secondary were declared winners of the 2018 Region Four JOF Haynes Debating Competition
For a second consecutive year, Covent Garden Secondary School has captured the Region Four JOF Haynes Debating Competition title. They secured the title by defeating Bladen Hall Multilateral.
Covent Garden Secondary, the national defending champions, expressed happiness at being able to retain their Region Four title, while declaring that they were prepared to defend the national title they won last year.
At the regional finals held in the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), Region Four Boardroom, Covent Garden chalked up 246 points to Bladen Hall’s 205.
The moot in the finals was, “The current level of taxation among the working class in Guyana is stifling individual financial independence.” The moot was proposed by Bladen Hall and opposed by Covent Garden.
Jessica Jagdeo, the second speaker on the Covent Garden Secondary team, copped the Best Speaker award.
It is the first time in a number of years that a school within Region Four was able to successfully defend their title.
The competition, which is an initiative of the Ministry of Education, saw some sixteen schools within Region Four starting off on April 25.
Regional Education Officer (ag) Ms Tiffany Favourite-Harvey, told students that a perfect platform in developing their ability to speak effectively and efficiently is through debating. This, she noted, will help in cultivating excellent skills.
“I would like to congratulate you all, as today, one of the two finalists will represent us in the national finals. However, let me remind you all that you represented us very well in the regional competition,” Harvey told the competitors.
She reminded them that sharpening their public speaking skills is pivotally important in bringing about holistic development among their peers. She also reminded them that being able to effectively speak will certainly boost their self-confidence, while enhancing their opportunities.
“Being good public speakers is critically important towards your holistic success, and through competitions like these, you are enhancing and further promoting your participation, which will certainly boost your self-confidence.”
She reminded the students that the Department of Education, Region Four, stands committed and dedicated to ensuring that an avenue is created for students to enhance and further develop their speaking ability.
“This competition has helped in creating opportunities for several students to develop their public speaking ability and with the response that I have seen thus far to the competition, I remain confident that like the other students who have benefited you here are going to continue benefiting,” Harvey added.
Meanwhile, the Primary Education Officer also offered words of encouragement to the winning school, while urging the students to set their eyes on returning to the region with the coveted title. Covent Garden won the national title last year and Head Mistress Ms Jean Skeete who witnessed the regional final, said that she and the students are happy that they would be defending their national title.
She said that like the regional title, they have put a system in place aimed at ensuring that they can have a successful defence. “We are very confident of regaining the national title and I am excited that we won the regional title so as to defend the national title,” she said.
Teacher at Bladen Hall Multilateral, Mrs. Termati Ramcharitar-Manohar congratulated Covent Garden Secondary and said that while she is disappointed that her school lost, she is confident that the region has an excellent representative in Covent Garden Secondary.
Covent Garden was represented by Anzale Gonsalves, Jessica Jagdeo and Kenasha Dey while Bladen Hall was represented by Abosede Osunbiji, Angelina Khanai and Mala Persaud.
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