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Nelson Barton (left), Public Relations Manager at Kaiser Jamaica Bauxite Company, presents the Alpart/Kaiser Trophy to Gregory Simms from Cornwall College. Sharing the moment are teammates Lij Sinclair (2nd right) and Charles Barrett.

Cornwall College in St. James emerged winner of the inaugural Jamaica Information Service (JIS) National Heritage Debate finals held at the Anglican Church Hall in Ocho Rios in St. Ann on December 4.

Despite the heavy rains, the competition was well supported with eight schools from five regions vigorously debating the moot 'be it resolved that the Sam Sharpe led rebellion did more harm than good to the Emancipation process'. The schools which competed were the six regional winners and the two best second placed teams and comprised Ferncourt High from St. Ann; Hampton High, Munro College and Glenmuir High from St. Elizabeth; Montego Bay High and Cornwall College from St. James; St. Thomas Technical High and St. Mary High.

Lij Sinclair (right) of Cornwall College in St. James is being presented the best speaker award by Wayne King, Sales Representative of Chas E. Ramson Limited.

After a spirited first round, Hampton, Montego Bay, Munro College and Cornwall College advanced to the semi finals with Munro and Cornwall College reaching the finals. After a keenly contested final, in which both teams put forward compelling arguments, Cornwall College emerged champion over Munro, with Hampton taking third place.

For its victory, Cornwall received the coveted Alpart/Kaiser Trophy, plus a number of other prizes. Lij Sinclair and Charles Barrett both of Cornwall College, emerged best speaker and second best speaker for the finals respectively, while Nakita Nembhard of Hampton High School and Robert Whyte of Munro College were adjudged best speakers for the semi-finals. Each participant in the competition received a certificate of participation from the JIS.

JIS Regional Services Manager, Winsome Christie commenting on the high standard of the competition, said she was quite impressed by the amount of research that had been done by the students.

"The purpose of the competition was to improve the students' awareness of the work of the National Heroes and their contribution to the national development process and to encourage their involvement in research," she said. She promised that next year event would be even "bigger and better".

"The JIS wishes to commend our sponsors who came on board and really gave good support to this programme. I have to make special mention of Alumina Partners of Jamaica and Kaiser Jamaica Bauxite Company, which undertook the major sponsorship at very short notice .we know that they will want to renew their sponsorship next year given the kind of competition they have seen today," Mrs. Christie stated.

Dwayne Willaims, a member of the Munro College debating team being presented with a Starter Savings Account by Lloyd Speare, Manager of the Royal Bank of Trinidad and Tobago's Ocho Rios Branch.

Other sponsors were Cable and Wireless Jamaica, which provided a PBX system and cellular phones for the winners; Chas. E. Ramson, which provided the prize for the second and third placed speakers; Royal Bank of Trinidad and Tobago and ScotiaBank, which gave starter accounts to the members of the three top placed teams; ACID Security Company, CALICO Underwater Tours; FDR Resorts; GlaxoSmithkline Limited; Harmony Hall; Jakes Hotel and Villas; Jamaica National Building Society; Jamaica Pegasus Hotel; Jewellery Collection; Mall Jewellers; National Baking Company; Pavillion Jewellers; Renaissance Jamaica Grande; Sandals Dunn's River Golf Resort & Spa; Soft Sheen and Zion Bus Tour.

JIS Productions Manager, Ian Boyne, in congratulating the students, noted that the debates could serve to strengthen the process of dialogue and discussion in the society. "Events such as this will enhance the democratic foundations of the country and increase the awareness of Jamaicans about the country's history and their responsibilities in respect of the national development process," he stated.

Public Relations Manager at Alpart, Lance Neita told JIS News that he was very happy that a good partnership had been established between the two bauxite companies and the JIS in terms of the sponsoring of the National Debate finals.

"Looking today at the kind of presentations made by the eight schools, I can only say how very impressed I am. This programme augurs well for the future of the country.Alpart intends to continue to support this activity as we have long supported so many other similar programmes in our mining belt in areas such as community development, education and sports," he stated.

Meanwhile, Public Relations Manager at Kaiser, Nelson Barton observed that Jamaicans needed to engage more and more in "healthy discussion". "This competition has our full support . I commend the JIS for this initiative and I am sure that all will agree that these students are leading the way and we can rest assured that the future of the country is in very safe hands," he said.

Branch Manager for RBTT, Lloyd Speare commended the schools on their performance and promised that his institution "will continue in the same vein to support programmes such as this, which we feel can have a significant but positive impact on the lives of the young people of Jamaica as without their input, we can have no future".

Sales Manager for Chas. E. Ramson, Wayne King expressed his company's full support for activities that "could contribute to the betterment of our nation. This debate competition has been an eye opener as it has been really good. I know that the JIS can count on our support next year," he stated.

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