The Virgin Islands School of Technical Studies are the winners of their first debate following a successful win against the BVI Seventh Day Adventist School.

The teams from both schools debated on the moot: “Higher tax should be levied on ‘junk foods,’” at the competition held on Monday, January 30.

The proposition, represented by Daveon Tapper, Janallia George, and Angie Perez of the BVI Seventh Day Adventist School insisted that levying tax on junk food would prevent persons from consuming foods which would ultimately affect their health.

Students Gracelyn Pickering, Kasalya Farrington and Noah Spencer represented the opposition, Virgin Islands School of Technical Studies. They argued that levying tax on junk food would be economically detrimental to families who were not financially stable. They proposed for a reduction of prices on healthier foods to encourage a healthier lifestyle at an affordable rate.

The best speaker of the debate was awarded to Miss Janallia George of the BVI Seventh Day Adventist School.

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

Round three of the debates continued Wednesday, February 1 at the Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium, H. Lavity Stoutt Community College with Claudia Creque Educational Centre securing the win against Cedar International on the moot: “Students should be held legally responsible for bullying in schools”.

Semi-finals begin on Monday, February 20, with the Claudia Creque Educational Centre competing against the reigning debate champions, the Elmore Stoutt High School. The winners of debates one and two, the St. George’s Secondary School and Virgin Islands School of Technical Studies will also compete against each other.

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’.

1. Leader of the opposition, Noah Spencer of the Virgin Islands School of Technical Studies during his rebuttal presentation (Photo credit: GIS/Ronnielle Frazer)
2. Daveon Tapper of the BVI Seventh Day Adventist School during her presentation (Photo credit: GIS/Ronnielle Frazer)
3. Best Speaker of the debate, Janallia George of the BVI Seventh Day Adventist School during her presentation (Photo credit: GIS/Ronnielle Frazer)