The 2017 Inter-Secondary Schools’ Debate Competition kicked off on Monday with a heated debate on the moot, “Gay marriage harms the institution of traditional marriage”.

The opposition, St. George’s Secondary School, outscored the proposition, Bregado Flax Educational Centre – Secondary Division, to advance to semi-finals of the debate competition.

The debate took place at the Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium, H. Lavity Stoutt Community College.

The proposition, represented by Misses Keira St. Rose, Kaliyah Stevens and Anika Christopher argued that gay marriage can be detrimental to the institution of traditional marriage because it weakens the definition and respect for the institution of marriage and its key purpose, which is procreation.

The opposition, represented by Misses Hunter Christopher, Kiymeiah Millington and Le’Amoi Biggs, opposed the moot by stating that gay marriage, which is a recent phenomenon, should not be blamed for the state of marriage which has been facing alarming erosions and failures dating as far back as the 1950’s.

The judges based their decision on the soundness of points, logical development, audibility and clarity, personality, and command of the material.

The best speaker of the debate was awarded to Miss Keira St. Rose of the Bregado Flax Educational Centre- Secondary Division.

The debates continue today, February 1 at the Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium, H. Lavity Stoutt Community College at 6:00 p.m. Claudia Creque Educational Centre will debate against Cedar International on the moot; “Students should be held legally responsible for bullying in schools”.

The Inter-Secondary Schools’ Debate Competition provides a platform where students can lend their voice to important, topical issues through clear articulation and rational defence of an idea.

For more information, persons should contact the Ministry of Education and Culture at 468-3701 ext. 2151.

The Ministry of Education and Culture is committed to ‘Creating a Culture of Excellence’.

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Photo Captions

1. Inter-Secondary Schools’ Debate Competition Preliminary Winners, Kiymeiah Millington, Hunter Christopher, and Le’Amoi Biggs of the St. George’s Secondary School (Photo credit: GIS/Ronnielle Frazer)
2. Kiymeiah Millington of the St. George’s Secondary School during her presentation (Photo credit: GIS/Ronnielle Frazer)
3. Best Speaker of the debate, Keira St. Rose of the Bregado Flax Educational Centre-Secondary Division during her presentation (Photo credit: GIS/Ronnielle Frazer)