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Cornwall College Wins first Match in JIS/JPSCo Heritage Debate

October 6, 2005

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The 2005 Jamaica Information Service (JIS)/Jamaica Public Service Company (JPSCo) Heritage Debate Competition got underway in Montego Bay yesterday (Oct. 5) with Cornwall College scoring a victory over hot rivals Mount Alvernia High School.
The contest, which was held at the Cornwall College auditorium, saw the teams debating the moot: ‘Be it resolved that National Hero Norman Manley was more renowned for his legal than his political skills.’ With the victory, Cornwall will move on to the next round of the competition, which features eight schools from St. James, Hanover and Westmoreland, demonstrating their research and debating skills as they vie for top honours in addition to prizes. The winner will be crowned on October 27.
Other contests are expected to get underway soon in the regions of Ocho Rios, May Pen, Mandeville, Port Antonio and Kingston.
In his address at the launch, Director of Productions at JIS Ian Boyne, said that by staging the annual debates, the JIS was fulfilling its mandate and commitment to educate, inform and to stimulate the minds of the young.
He observed that in a democratic society, it was important for people to engage their minds and develop their analytical skills and through debates, people could learn “how to talk it out rather than fight it out”.
“The more people use their minds, engaging in reasoning, give and take, and in debating and conversation, the more that happens, the more it contributes to peace and conflict resolutions in the society. The JIS therefore wants to contribute to the strengthening of a civic culture and a civil society,” Mr. Boyne pointed out.
He noted further, that the competition served to promote culture as an important feature of economic and social development.
“We, at JIS believe that the Jamaican people and more particularly the young people, by understanding their heritage, by understanding the struggles of those who went before and by understanding the lives of those who really gave themselves to the service of their countrymen, can be inspired to carry on this legacy . and this history of civic engagement and public activism,” he noted.
Started in 1998, the JIS/JPSCo Heritage Debate is carried out in the six regions served by the JIS.Prizes for the winning school in each region include: a trophy from JPSCo, with each student on the winning team receiving a replica in addition to book vouchers; trophy for the best speaker; cash prize for teacher/coach; and other awards.
In addition to title sponsors JPSCo, other supporters of the Montego Bay leg of the contest are City Sports, Henderson Book Store and Salmon’s Photo and Video Service.

Last Updated: October 6, 2005

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