THE Guyana Police Force emerged the winner of the first round of the inaugural New Amsterdam Town Week Debating competition held at the Town Hall chamber yesterday afternoon.Opposing the moot “Criminal activity in Guyana has been significantly aided by failed security approaches,”  the three-member team of Darrel  Ramsay, Satesh Narine and Margo Grovesnor won the hearts and minds of the judges and the observers through their well-researched and articulated responses.

Apart from gaining 234 points, the law-enforcement officers grabbed the Best Speaker Award. Chief Judge Ian ‘Bertie’ Carter observed that the second speaker Satesh Narine was the lone debater to have utilised his time and also articulated well. Leader of the group Darrel Ramsay was also acknowledged for his speech.

The proposing team from the Guyana Prison Service consisted of  S. Holligan, K. Williams and G. Patterson. However, while  this  team must be complimented  for their  efforts,  their challenges included the  need for clarity,  research, and proper subject and verb agreement   and  punctuation.

The winners, while diminishing the mythological arguments of the proposition, argued  the sociological aspect, facts and statistics, along with the analytical  revelation on the disparity of the two variables.

In concluding their argument, policeman Ramsay said, “armed robberies, murder, migration,[the] police taking bribes, they do exist. We agree.  Petty criminals make up 90 percent of the prison inmates according to a prison report prepared by then Director of Prison Dale Erskine…but this moot says an important phrase, “significantly aided.”

Meanwhile, round two of the debate is scheduled for Monday, when the New Amsterdam Town Council and the Guyana Fire Service will debate the moot, “Increased penalties for violent crime is the key for restoration of law and order for a developing society like Guyana.”
Thereafter, the winner will battle with the Guyana Police Force for the Ministry of Public Security trophy.
The judges included Poet Stephanie Bowry and Educator Christine Isaacs, while the time-keeper was Michael West.