As Mas Dominik 2025 celebrations take off in full swing, the highly anticipated second round of the Inter-Secondary Schools Debating Competition is set to take place this week, featuring six of Dominica’s top debating teams. Five schools that advanced from the first round will be joined by last year’s champions in an intense battle of wit, reasoning, and eloquence—all centered around thought-provoking Carnival-related topics.
The competition kicks off on Wednesday, February 19, with Wesley High School (WHS) taking on the defending champions, Orion Academy. Their debate topic, “Beauty Pageants Are Outdated in a Modern Society Focused on Diversity and Inclusion,” will see the ladies of WHS supporting the motion, while Orion Academy presents counterarguments against it.
The intellectual showdown continues on Thursday, February 20, with Dominica Grammar School (DGS) facing off against St. Martin Secondary School (SMSS) on the topic, “The Government of Dominica Should Invest Heavily in Bouyon Music Now to Ensure Future Economic Benefits From the Genre.” The DGS team will argue in favor of this proposition, while SMSS will challenge its viability.
The final debate of the week, on Friday, February 21, will focus on the contentious topic, “During Festive Seasons in Dominica, There Should Be a 9 PM Curfew Imposed on Adolescents Below the Age of 18.” Pierre Charles Secondary School (PCSS) will argue in support of the motion, while Portsmouth Secondary School (PSS) will oppose it.
All debates will take place at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Global Campus, commencing at 2:30 PM. By the end of this round, four schools will advance to the semifinals in March, with the ultimate goal of securing a spot in the grand finals scheduled for April.
Revived three years ago after a long hiatus, the Inter-Secondary Schools Debating Competition has become a cornerstone for nurturing critical thinking, research proficiency, and public speaking skills among Dominican students.
Ms. Trudy Christian, Interim President of the Dominica State College (DSC) and lead organizer of the competition, is encouraging the public to support these young debaters by attending the debates in person or watching online. Live coverage will be on EmoNews, DBS Radio and Dominica News Online.
With strong backing from DSC’s Literary and Debating Society, as well as this year’s headline sponsor, Josephine Gabriel & Co. Ltd., the competition has solidified its reputation as a premier platform for showcasing the intellectual prowess of the nation’s youth.
Other sponsors of the competition are Lindo Mart, National Cooperative Credit Union, KFC, Fine Foods Inc., DOWASCO, DOMLEC, HHV Whitchurch & Co. Ltd., National Bank of Dominica, Insurance Company of the West Indies, Jays Bookstore, Republic Bank, Moreau & Co. Ltd.
