Following the passage of Hurricane Irma, Anguilla stepped to the plate to host the 46th annual Leeward Islands’ Debating Competition after the original 2018 host island, Tortola, was unable to do so. Although Anguilla also experienced severe damage from the devastating September 2017 storm, the spirit and resilience of the people made it impossible not to take on the challenge.
Led by the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School Literary & Debating Society president, Miggy Llorera, members of the Anguilla debate club engaged in several fundraisers to be able to take on the initiative of hosting the convention. Delegates from Nevis, St. Maarten, and Antigua & Barbuda, the other represented islands, will arrive later in the month to compete in the series of debates taking place March 2-4 at Blue Ridge in South Hill.
The Leeward Islands’ Debating Competition, founded by George Irish of Montserrat, is an annual event that first took place in 1972. It has been lauded through the years for bringing together students from participating Member Islands to debate issues relevant to region. The competition has become an important forum, promoting the interaction of young people from across the Leewards as they engage in one of the oldest activities of civilization. In 2017, the event was held in Nevis where the host country took home the winning title. Anguilla last won the Leeward Islands’ Debating Competition in 2015.
This year, Anguilla will be represented by the team of debaters: T’arah Niles, Edwin Sutton, Alysha Carty, Tahjique Connor, Chadd Hodge and Aaron Adams.
The general public is encouraged to attend and show support to the hardworking students in the various regional debating societies as they go head to head with topics covering timely and pertinent issues in mental health, climate change, and racism. Each debate will be held at Blue Ridge and begin at 6:30 pm nightly.
– Press Release
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
