Cedar School dethrones ESHS to win 2020 debate competition

Cedar International School (CIS) are the 2020 Inter-Secondary School Debates champions, after dethroning defending champions Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) in the final on Wednesday, March 11.

In what was considered a rematch of the 2019 finals between both Tortola-based schools, Cedar defeated ESHS by only 16 points to win with a total 543.

The newly-crowned champions which consisted of Amelia Adamson, Hailey Chomiak, and Ali Tarabay, argued in favour of the moot: Blacklisting Caribbean financial centres is a modern form of colonialism.

They believe that governing bodies such as the European Union and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) pick on smaller countries such as the British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands through the blacklisting process, which they said can be viewed classified neo-colonialism.

The trio argued that by blacklisting such countries, they become disenfranchised in the global market, and as a result, their economies are significantly impacted negatively as business opportunities are forced to go elsewhere to avoid being penalised by these governing bodies.

Opposing the moot

On the other end of the argument were ESHS’ Eusa Adams, Jordan Dawson, Alexia Penn who won the Best Speaker award.

They argued that blacklisting and colonialism is no way relatable. The trio said while blacklisting can be seen as a temporary measure, colonialism on the other hand is a process which usually takes decades or even centuries in some instances.

Impromptu speech awards

Meanwhile, in the impromptu speech segment, Elmore Stoutt’s Halla Selwood was crowned the winner after beating Nicklous Kanhai of the Bregado Flax Educational Centre, and schoolmate Nikelle Melville. Kanhai and Melville placed second and third, respectively.