DGS, WHS Secure Spots in Inter-Secondary Schools Debate Finals

The Dominica Grammar School (DGS) will have the opportunity to defend their debate

championship title of last year after securing a place in the finals of the Inter-Secondary

Schools Debating Competition. The DGS will face Wesley High School (WHS) in the

finals. The both schools triumphed over their opponents in the semi-finals.

Both semi-final debates took place on March 26th and the Dominica Social Security was

the lead sponsor and partner in this round. The first semi- final debate was on the topic: “The growth in informal sector employment poses a greater challenge to the

sustainability of Dominica’s Social Security System than unemployment in the formal

sector.”

In this debate, St. Martin Secondary School (SMSS), represented by Shanaiyah John

and Kurdez Simon, argued on the proposing side, while Wesley High School,

represented by Hephzibah Ademola and Niola Alleyne, took the opposing position.

At the end of the debate, St. Martin Secondary School scored 516 points, while Wesley

High School secured a stronger 573 points, earning them a place in the finals.

WHS’s Hephzibah Ademola delivered an outstanding performance and was awarded

Best Speaker for the debate.

The second semi-final focused on the motion: “The Dominica Social Security System

should introduce an unemployment benefit, even if it requires restructuring existing

benefits and/or contribution rates.”

Isaiah Thomas Secondary School (ITSS), represented by Kianna Aaron and Allick

Stedman, argued in favor of the motion, while Dominica Grammar School, represented

by Lydia Charles and Micaela Benjamin, opposed it.

Both teams delivered well-structured and engaging presentations, but Dominica

Grammar School emerged as the stronger side, scoring 702 points compared to Isaiah

Thomas Secondary School’s 627 points.

Micaela Benjamin of DGS was named Best Speaker for the second debate.

Organizer Trudy Christian expressed hearty congratulations to the teams making it to

the finals, noting that this would be Wesley High School’s first entry to this round. She

praised the high level of preparation of all the semi-finalists and specifically highlighted

the amazing contribution of the coaches. Mrs. Kellan Stedman, coach of the ITSS team,

and Mrs. Dahlila Lee, coach of the SMSS team, were given tokens of appreciation upon

their exit from the competition.

Christian also expressed gratitude to the sponsors for their continued investment in

education, offering special thanks to headline sponsor Josephine Gabriel & Co. Ltd., as

well as major sponsors Central Cooperative Credit Union, DOMLEC, ICWI, KFC, Lindo

Mart, and Dominica Social Security for their support of the initiative.

More details to come on the finals of this year's competition.