West Demerara Secondary School crowned debating champs

Dec 08, 2022 News

Kaieteur News – West Demerara Secondary School on Wednesday emerged victorious with 315 points at the conclusion of the 2022 J.O.F Haynes Memorial Debating Competition.

They defeated Winifred Gaskin Memorial Secondary (259 Points), in an intense final, held at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD).

The winning team from the West Demerara Secondary School

The teams debated the moot: “The primary avenue for economic prosperity in Guyana is the oil and gas industry.” Winifred Gaskin Memorial Secondary was the proposition, while West Demerara Secondary School the opposition. Desson Daniels, Raphaela David and Keba Evelyn represented the West Demerara Secondary School while the Winifred Gaskin Memorial Secondary School was represented by Crystal Smartt, Quincie Andrews and Masani Jordan.

Keba Evelyn of the West Demerara Secondary School was judged the best speaker. It is worth noting that she was judged the best speaker in every debate throughout the competition.

The second place finishers, the team from the Winifred Gaskin Memorial Secondary School

Mr. Sheldon Granville, Senior Education Officer within the Secondary Sector said that every Education District was represented in the

Best Speaker, Keba Evelyn receiving her prize from Assistant Chief Education Officer (Secondary), Ms. Tiffany Harvey

competition. The competition started with 11 schools; the Santa Rosa Secondary School (Region One), the Anna Regina Secondary School (Region Two), the West Demerara Secondary School (Region Three), Friendship Secondary School (Region Four), Fort Wellington Secondary School (Region Five), Winifred Gaskin Memorial Secondary School (Region Six), Three Miles Secondary School (Region Seven), Mahdia Secondary School (Region Eight), Aishalton Secondary School (Region Nine), Mackenzie High School (Region Ten) and St. Joseph High School (Georgetown).

Members of both teams pose for a photograph with the Director of NCERD, Ms. Quenita Walrond-Lewis (right), Assistant Chief Education Officer (Secondary), Ms. Tiffany Harvey (centre) and Assistant Chief Education Officer (Literacy), Ms. Samantha Williams (fourth from left).

Mr. Granville said that there were independent judges at each stage of the competition. He said that before moots were finalized, they were analyzed to ensure that they were balanced and allowed both debating sides to present sound arguments. Chief Judge yesterday, Ms. Collette Horatio commended both teams on their performance. She noted that there was an improvement in the use of supporting evidence to establish a logical relationship with the moot. She advised the speakers that in debating, measured speech is required and that they should not lose their way with words.

Assistant Chief Education Officer (Secondary), Ms. Tiffany Harvey and Assistant Chief Education Officer (Literacy), Ms. Samantha Williams were present to hand over prizes and trophies to the two teams. The JOF Haynes debating competition is an annual one and sees schools participating from every education district from across Guyana.