St. Kitts will play host to the2024 Leeward Islands Debating Competition (LIDC), which will take place at the Royal St. Kitts Hotel Conference Room in Frigate Bay, St. Kitts, from February 29th to March 4th,2024.
This year’s prestigious event will see six territories comprising Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Montserrat, Nevis, St. Maarten and St. Kitts come together to showcase youth eloquence and ointellectual prowess.
Approximately 170 students between the ages of 15 and 2l are expected to participate in the LIDC.
Beyond the thrill of competition, LIDC offers many benefits for young debaters. As they engage in spirited exchanges of ideas, they hone their debating skills and expand their cultural horizons.
The diversity represented by the participating territories provides a rich tapestry for cultural exchange and fosters a deeper understanding and appreciation of the sub-region’s heritage.
Through initiatives like the LIDC, a foundation is laid for a future generation of leaders equipped with the skills and confidence to tackle the challenges of today’s and tomorow’s world.
Additionally, the LIDC serves as a platform for personal growth and development, showcases the intellectual capabilities of the youth and underscores the importance of fostering a culture of critical thinking and civil discourse within our communities.
Participants emerge from the competition with heightened self-confidence, having tested their abilities in a challenging and intellectually stimulating environment.
Through rigorous research, logical analysis, and persuasive rhetoric, they sharpen essential skills invaluable for their academic and professional futures.
“We are thrilled to invite the public to join us in celebrating the intellectual prowess and cultural diversity showcased at the Fifth-Second Annual Leeward Islands Debating Competition,” remarked members of the organising committee. “This event is not only an opportunity to witness the talent of our youth, but also a chance to engage in meaningful dialogue on issues of importance to our communities.”
In debate # 1, which takes place on March 1 at 10:00 am between Nevis and Montserrat, the moot is “Higher education institutions should ban the use of Artificial Intelligence in academic discourse”, while Anguilla versus Antigua in debate #2 will argue the moot “social media is detrimental to the Caribbean region’s cultural identity” at 1:00 pm.
In debate # 3 on Saturday, March 2 at 6:00 pm, St. Maarten will come up against the winner of debate #1 with the moot “The Caribbean region is adequately prepared to respond to future pandemics and crises”.
In debate #4, St. Kitts will take on the winner of debate #2 at 8 pm on March 2 with the moot ‘Caribbean nations have sufficiently improved their education systems to prepare youth for 21st century challenges”.
On the final day of the competition on Sunday, March 3, at 5:00 pm, the winner of debate # 3 and debate #4 will vie for the coveted title of LIDC champion. They will argue the moot “The feminist movement has become focused on attacking men rather than promoting the equality of women”.
From stimulating debate topics to immersive cultural experiences, participants can expect a well-rounded programme that fosters personal and intellectual growth.
We will update this article with the participants representing Montserrat before the first debate.
