By K. NANCOO-RUSSELL

Freeport News Reporter

krystal@nasguard.com

The six students who will represent the Grand Bahama district in the upcoming National Debate Competition were chosen yesterday at the Ministry of Education's 13th annual local qualifier.

Ten out of the 11 schools in the district sent representatives to compete for the coveted spots, the largest number of competitors since the program began.

The statement presented for debate was "Be it resolved that capital punishment should be removed from the laws of The Bahamas" and students put forth convincing arguments on both sides.

At the end of the gruelling two hour competition, Jonae Taylor of Jack Hayward High; Rashana Curry of St. Georges High; Tia Duncombe of Grand Bahama Catholic High; Me-

gan Turnquest of Sunland Baptist Academy; Chayane Stuart of Eight Mile Rock High; and Randi Miller of Grand Bahama Academy were the top debaters chosen, in order of points awarded.

The students will be split into two debating teams and the alternate chosen was Valencia Stewart of St. Paul's College.

They are expected to begin preparations in short order for the first round of competition which will take place at the end of January in New Providence.

In presenting remarks on behalf of the other judges – Yvette O'Connor of BAIC; Dr. Pamula Mills, chief clinical psychologist; Herbert Marshall, senior education officer and Carleta Carolina of Coral Pharmaceuticals – Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Department of Public Service Donald McCartney commended the students for their performances and gave them tips on how they can improve.

Language arts officer with the Ministry Daphne Barr also said the students performed admirably and appeared at ease with the topic.

"It seems as if those who are debating on whatever side even if they do not truly agree or believe with that position that they are debating, they are speaking with so much conviction, I cannot tell," she said.

She noted that the district has also sent strong teams to the national leg, even having its two teams compete against each other for the championship in the final round of competition.

"This year we are very determined and totally committed to bringing back the national championship," she said.

She explained that the Ministry's hopes that all schools will be encouraged to organize debate clubs.

"We realize that especially from the history of students who have participated in debate, that their performance was outstanding in the external exams," she said.

"Their overall communication skills were enhanced, their ability to write more creatively improved significantly, and actually research has shown that students who participate in debate competitions or who are taught how to debate in schools, their literacy skills increase at least 25 percent within a given year and so we see where competitions like this reap great benefits."

Another way the art of debate can be useful to students is in helping them to develop conflict resolution skills.

"We know that when students debate in competitions that it also resolves conflicts peaceably and when we look at our nation now we see how students are resolving conflict - though anger and violence," she said.

"So if we could get more of our students to participate in activities such as this, the will have the vocabulary to express themselves more eloquently and therefore when they are angry, they can say why rather than that anger actually festering so much that they can only explode."