The Orion Academy cinched victory over the St. Mary’s Academy at the finals of the Inter-Secondary Schools Debating Competition on April 17th 2024. Dymond Daniel and Ejahdi Jazz Maxwell of the Orion Academy opposed the topic “The tourism industry is currently the most valuable tool for economic growth and diversification in Dominica.” On their path to winning the championship title, team Orion argued that the tourism industry, although important, is too easily impacted by externalities such pandemics and soaring air travel costs to be considered the most valuable tool for economic growth. Instead, they postulated, that agriculture and the blue and green economy should be the focus for Dominica’s economic success. Dymond Daniel secured the award for best rebuttal. The St. Mary’s Academy, represented by Noah Sorhaindo and Jelani Shillingford, put up a strong fight in the debate, securing 671 points to Orion’s 691. Noah Sorhaindo was adjudged best speaker of the debate and honed his argument on the immense potential of the tourism industry to blossom, particularly in light of projects which are in progress such as the aerial tram and several resorts among others.
At the finals, four students were recognized as being memorable orators throughout the 2024 debate series. Noah Sorhaindo (SMA), Dymond Daniel (Orion), Thérèse LeBlanc (CHS), and Elianette Joly (DGS) were the recipients of this special award sponsored by Domlec. The Isaiah Thomas Secondary School was recognized as the most improved school for the debate season, having made it this year to the semi-finals.
The final debate of the debate competition was sponsored by Western Illinois University. The grand prize for the winners, an all expenses paid trip for 4 to St. Lucia, is sponsored through contributions made by the National Cooperative Credit Union, the Insurance Company of the West Indies and Josephine Gabriel & Co. Ltd.
