Debating in the Bahamas

From http://freeport.nassauguardian.net/national_local/322039807967548.php

GB teams selected to compete in national debate competition
By LISA S. KING

FN Asst. Editor

lisa@nasguard.com

Grand Bahama could possibly reclaim its winning reputation in the upcoming national debating competition as evidenced by the outstanding performance displayed by participants of this year's district competition hosted yesterday by the Ministry of Education.

Challenged to debate on the controversial moot: "Be it resolved, that a national lottery is the solution to funding sports, training and education," eight students from various schools on Grand Bahama, accompanied by their coaches and fellow students gathered in the conference room of the Adminis-trator's Office to convince their audience on why the moot should be proposed or opposed.

Students participating in this year's district debating competition were as follows: Proposing the moot were Bria Williams of Tabernacle Baptist Academy; Joanna Brown of Bishop Michael Eldon School; Avion Dames of St. Paul's Methodist College; and Gonae Taylor of St. Georges High School. Opposing the moot were Janiesha Gibson of Eight Mile Rock High School; Randi Miller of Grand Bahama Academy; Tia Duncombe of Grand Bahama Catholic High School and Rhashanna Curry of St. Georges High School.

After each side was completed with trying to convince those present to side with their point of view, emerging the top proposition speaker was Gonae Taylor and top opposition speaker was Rhashanna Curry.

Based upon their outstanding performance at the event, the six speakers selected to represent two teams from Grand Bahama are: Janiesha Gibson, Tia Duncombe, Bria Williams, Joanna Brown and of course Gonae Taylor and Rhashanna Curry.

Visibly impressed with the performance of the students, Education Officer Daphne Barr said Grand Bahama debaters have a rich past of doing exceptionally well at the nationals. However, she said for the first time in a long time, the island did not do well. Out of the 11 years of its existence, Grand Bahama has only failed to do well in the nationals about three times.

"All of the speakers who were chosen to represent the Grand Bahama district , have all shown outstanding performance in the ability to debate and we are always proud of them," Barr said. "But this year, we intend to go back with a vengeance because we intend not to be beaten this year."

The Education Officer said each year, the Ministry selects six students to make up two teams to represent the Grand Bahama district at the nationals in New Providence. She added that once the students are selected, at the latter part of January, the two teams then compete with teams from another district that can come from anywhere around the country.

Barr said this year's participants were so persuasive in their speeches that she is sure they have what it takes to do well at the nationals.

"It tells me that if these coaches continue to work with them and fine tune their ability to perform at that level, then we will continuously have success," she said. " I believe that we are going to see some performances (at the nationals) that are going to leave persons gaping because that is how impressed they are going to be."

Barr said over the years, she has seen a metamorphosis occurring among the various students coming forth to participate in the debating competition. In earlier years, she said some of the students were shy and some even showed a lack of self-confidence. However, this kind of behaviour has seemingly decreased (especially among yesterday's participants) as more students are becoming bolder and stronger in their speech presentations.

"At the end of the day, these students really understand what critical thinking is and what it is to be a persuasive speaker and so it (debating) develops skills that will help our students to be great orators," she said. "To be able to think on their feet, it helps to develop their leadership skills, you see the potential of those persons who can possibly be a politician or who can become a leader in a country or who can just be an outstanding administrator.

"Basically, I have high hopes that we have a great chance of becoming champions bringing home the victory this year, but more importantly, I am hoping that we can once again go up against each other," she said.

"I know that the other teams from the other districts are getting better as well, so we have to come real tough. I know that we have some dedicated coaches and our coaches are extremely talented and that is why you see this higher level of performance among the participants, and that is because of the efforts of their coaches who are standing behind them."

Judges for the district debating competition were: Deborah Pratt, Jethro Dixon, Kenneth Knowles and Herbert Marshall.

Before the various debaters were chosen for the two teams that will represent Grand Bahama, Judge Pratt gave a few words of advice to the participants.

Though impressed with the performance of all the contestants, Pratt said such competitions require that they pay attention to time when making their points as points will not be deducted once they stick to the time allotted.

"So you want to practice your speech, practice staying within the allotted time and also as you practice your speech you will become more comfortable with it, debates in particular," she said. "It is always good to know your speech, you may not always be able to memorize it in its entirety, but know it as much as possible so that your audience can see that you are convicted."