Team Nevis of the Charlestown Secondary Literacy and Debating Society returned to Nevis on Monday after they secured second place, defeating defending champions Anguilla at the 34th Annual Leeward Islands Debating Competition held in Antigua over the weekend.
The team, comprising Ms Janesha Daniel, first speaker, and Ms Nzingah Esdaille, second speaker and president of the debating society, returned to a warm welcome at the Charlestown Pier from CSS Principal Mr Edson Elliott, other staff members and Deputy Premier in the Nevis Island Administration Hon Malcolm Guishard. The Minister in brief remarks congratulated the students and their supporting staff for their achievement adding that they had made Nevis proud.
“You would have left here. You would have played your part, and Nevis itself would have been the better for your efforts. I want to wish you well in your efforts and in your future endeavours. Especially, I want to wish you all the best and to continue the good work,” he said.
Mr Hanley expressed his satisfaction with the students’ efforts, noting that they had spent some gruelling nights in preparation for the keenly contested competition. He could hardly contain his feelings of satisfaction.
“I must say that I am very, very proud of my team. They worked hard and started working since last December and especially over the last three weeks our work had been very intensive. Sometimes we would be up at school till 11 o’clock in the evening and that’s the kind of work that it took to get the debaters prepared. Even when we went to Antigua we had to do a lot of reworking and so on…sometimes we would lose a part of the debate and had to start all over again. So there were many frustrations that we had to go through but in the end it was worth it.
“The most exciting evening I think was Saturday evening. It was very close and the judge came on stage and said the debate was won by the rebuttal and it came down to one point and the winning team is Team Nevis. I think that was one of the most joyful moments I have had in my curer as staff sponsor at the Charlestown Secondary School and Sixth Form College,” he said.
Mr Elliott also congratulated the team for their efforts and lauded the students for their enthusiasm and drive to get to Antigua for which they raised $50,000. He explained that although there was initial apprehension when they had learnt the cost of their travels, they rallied their resources and set about having fund raisers, determined to reach their goal.
“Initially when the task was laid out before them that they had to raise $50,000, yes, there was some apprehension but they were determined in the end to make sure that they succeeded in raising those funds. I think for a group of young persons to be able to raise that kind of money in Nevis that certainly must be commendable.
“Once they had that type of enthusiasm it made the job for us very easy because with that kind of drive it meant that we too had to join and ensure that they got to Antigua and represented themselves well,” he said.
Dr Kelvin Dailey CSS Deputy Principal, who chaired the welcome ceremony, said the students had left for Antigua well conditioned, researched and rehearsed which was evident in the wonderful performance of the students.
He said CSS was not only good at academics but extra curricular activities also, “When you think of Charlestown Secondary School you must think of other things beside academics. We have a wonderful group of students who do other things and make Nevis very proud.”
Other brief remarks came from Miss Nzingah Esdaile and Ms Danielle Martin Treasurer of the Debating Society while Mr Dwight Morton at teacher at the school said a prayer.
