St. Mary High Wins Heritage Debate Competition

St. Mary High School emerged winner of the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Heritage Debate, which was held at the Methodist Church Hall in Port Antonio, recently.
The debate, organized by the Port Antonio Regional Office of the JIS, also involved Titchfield High, Port Antonio High, and Marymount High Schools.
Debated was the moot: ‘Be it resolved that the great significance ascribed to the work of National Heroine, the Rt. Excellent Nanny is largely a myth’.
The main prize was sponsored by the Jamaica Public Service Company. Other sponsors included the Jamaica National Building Society, the Bank of Nova Scotia, First Caribbean Bank, Courts Jamaica Limited, Kamals Supermarket, Juici Patties, Broadbent, Shines Wholesale, C.B. Traders, Dr. Donald Rhodd, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture; Harry Douglas, Minister of State in the Ministry of Water and Housing; and Councillor Alston Hunter, Mayor of Port Antonio.
St. Mary High scored a total of 232 points, in addition to winning the best speaker award, which went to Diandra Issacs, a sixth form student.
Second place went to Marymount High School, which scored 203 points, while third and fourth places were awarded to Titchfield High and Port Antonio High which received 198 and 180 points, respectively.
For winning the competition, St. Mary High was awarded the Jamaica Public Service Company Trophy, in addition to book vouchers and replicas of the main prize for each member of the team.
For placing second, Marymount was awarded the Dr. Donald Rhodd Trophy, and starter accounts from First Caribbean Bank for each member of the team.
Titchfield High was presented with three calculators by the Port Antonio branch of the Bank of Nova Scotia, to be given to each member of the team.
For winning the best speaker award, Miss Issacs received a starter account from Jamaica National Building Society, a trophy from the Jamaica Public Service Company, and a dictionary presented by Mayor Hunter.
Speaking to JIS News after the competition, teachers and students of the schools expressed pleasure at having participated in the debate.
They pointed out that the experience has served as an encouragement for them to continue to do research, not only on the life of Nanny, but also on the contribution of the other National Heroes.
Prior to the debate, a short ceremony was held during which Dr. Rhodd and Mayor Hunter welcomed members of the participating schools.
They also commended the JIS and the sponsors for the effort they had made to ensure the success of the event.