“With the present economic crisis, propelled by Covid-19, the Government of Grenada should move to legalise all forms of gambling in an effort to boost the economy.”
This was the 2020 topic chosen for the St David leg of the Parish Youth Debate.
Judges and viewers via social media platforms were treated to a high level of research and debate on the topic. Both Proposition and Opposition teams presented their findings before the panel with a display of true comradery.
The Proposing team was led by Javon Bartholomew while Ezra Fredrick led the Opposition. In the end, Ezra Frederick emerged top Debater.
Permanent Secretary with responsibility for Youth Development, Norman Gilbert, commended the participants on their dedication, commitment and preparations that went into their level of presentation on the topic. “I’m sure the general public was able to learn a lot, based on the rich content of your delivery. As a ministry, we are making every effort to ensure that we keep young persons engaged and this is one of our initiatives for youth engagement, in the absence of our Parish and National Parliament. As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, we felt it necessary to have debates like these where young people can voice their opinions on national issues”.
The members of the Opposing team emerged winners of the St David Parish Youth Debate, amassing of a total of 1,197 points, with the members of the Proposing team scoring a total of 1,147 points.
The next debate is scheduled for Wednesday, 8 July 2020 and will feature debaters from the parish of St George.
Debaters will present on the following topic “Does the Juvenile Rehabilitation and Treatment Centre; and the reasons for its implementation, serve to the juveniles who committed the act(s) and the parties affected by such act(s).
Ministry of Youth
It seems that this is a totally subjective determination.
While debates are interesting intellectually in terms of exchanging ideas, how does someone actually win a debate? I am sort of lost here.
Does it make any sense to say that someone won a debate given our situation on the island? Does this really change our condition when all is said and done?
What is the difference between someone who claim to be an NNP supporter vs. someone who claim to be an NDC supporter? How does one prove such a claim?
Is there anything preventing an NNP supporter from claiming he is an NDC supporter or vice versa on any given day?
Thinking about this, we really need to rethink and reshape the way we go about doing things on this island?
Some of these old ideas and attitudes do not make sense or serve our interest in any way.
Wake up, Indigenous Grenadians