ITSS Triumphs in Inter-Secondary School Debate Competition

On January 18, the stage at Alliance Française de la Dominique was set for an intellectual showdown. The Inter-Secondary School Debate competition saw Amelia Charles and Jo-Annel Serrant from Isaiah Thomas Secondary School (ITSS) taking center stage to demonstrate their debating prowess. Their opponents? Dianka George and Angel Eustache from St Martin Secondary School (SMSS). But after a riveting debate on the introduction of legislation to restrict smoking in public spaces, ITSS emerged victorious, scoring an impressive 642 points against SMSS’s 586.

Best Speaker and Future Aspirations

Not only did ITSS claim victory, but their very own Amelia Charles also bagged the Best Speaker award. Both Charles and Serrant are not just debaters, but young individuals with aspirations. Charles has her eyes set on a career in law, while Serrant is drawn towards politics. They believe that these debate competitions are pivotal stepping stones for their future career paths. Their win was not just for ITSS but a personal victory, a testimony to their determination and ambition to excel in their respective fields.

Other Debates and Future Rounds

The day also witnessed an engaging friendly debate between Dominica Grammar School (DGS) and Arthur Waldron Seventh Day Academy. The topic for this debate was the introduction of a sex offender registry in Dominica. The Best Speaker award for this debate was claimed by Elianette Joly from DGS. The competition is heating up with Orion Academy having secured its place in Round Two after triumphing over Castle Bruce Secondary School (CBSS) on January 17. The last debate of Round One is scheduled to take place on January 19, where Wesley High School and Convent High School will argue over whether Dominican students with government assistance for overseas education should be required to return home after their studies.

Competition Continues

The intellectual battle is far from over. Round Two of the competition is slated for February 22 and 23. The event is organized by Dominica State College with support from various partners and sponsors. Dominica News Online has promised its viewers live coverage of this stimulating event, giving them a front-row seat to the brightest minds of Dominica battling it out in the arena of ideas and convictions.