Six top students, members of the Anguilla Literary and Debating Society at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, are in Montserrat participating in the annual Leeward Islands Debating Competition.
They are Jose Vanterpool, Zipporah Bannister, Kasem Thompson, Nisha Dupuis, Arianna Woodley and Arielle Gaskin. The debators are accompanied by seven supporters and three teachers. The teachers are Charmaine Rey-Richardson, the Chief Staff Sponsor; Joselyn Richardson and Shari Richardson.
The topics for debate and the competing islands are as follows: Thursday, February 27: Blacklisting Caribbean financial centres is a modern form of colonialism – Anguilla vs St Kitts.
Friday, February 28: A college education is becoming less important to the success of Caribbean youths – Nevis vs BVI.
The Caribbean Diaspora builds societies abroad, and so has little value for the region – St Maarten vs Montserrat.
Saturday, March 1: CARICOM is justified in its quest for reparations from slavery – Winner of debate 1 vs Antigua.
There should be term limits for Caribbean Prime Ministers – Winner of debate 2 vs winner of debate 3.
Sunday, March 2: Voting in national elections should be the right of resident citizens only – Winner of debate 2 vs winner of debate 3.
