— win Region Four leg of JOF Haynes Debating Competition

COVENT Garden Secondary School made it two in a row when they won the 2018 Region Four JOF Haynes Debating Competition against Bladen Hall Multilateral.
Covent Garden Secondary, the national defending champions, were ecstatic to have retained their Region Four title, while declaring that they are prepared to defend the national title that they won last year.

At the regional finals held in the RDC Region Four boardroom, Covent Garden chalked up 246 points to defeat Bladen Hall Multilateral, who could muster only 205 points.
The moot in the finals was, “The current level of taxation among the working class in Guyana is stifling individual financial independence,” which was proposed by Bladen Hall Multilateral and opposed by Covent Garden Secondary.

Second speaker in Jessica Jagdeo of Covent Garden Secondary copped the Best Speaker award. It is the first time in a number of years that a school within Region Four was able to successfully defend its title.
The competition, which is an initiative of the Ministry of Education, saw some 16 schools within Region Four starting off the competition on April 25 with both Covent Garden and Bladen Hall reaching the finals.

Regional Education Officer (ag) Tiffany Favourite-Harvey, in her remarks, told the students that a perfect platform to develop their ability in speaking effectively and efficiently is through debate.
“I would like to congratulate you all as today one of the two finalists will represent us in the national finals. However, let me remind you all that you represented us very well in the regional competition,” REDO Harvey told the competitors.

She reminded them that sharpening their public-speaking skills is important in bringing about holistic development among their peers.

She reminded them that being able to effectively speak will certainly boost their self-confidence while enhancing their opportunities.

“Being good public speakers is critically important towards your holistic success and through competitions like these. You are enhancing and further promoting your participation, which will certainly boost your self-confidence.”

COMMITTED
She reminded the students that the Department of Education, Region Four, stands committed and dedicated to ensuring that an avenue is created for students to enhance and further develop their speaking ability.

“This competition has helped in creating opportunities for several students to develop their public-speaking ability and with the response that I have seen thus far to the competition, I remain confident that like the other students who have benefited, you here are going to continue benefiting,” Harvey said.

Meanwhile, Primary Education Officer Stembisco Grant, also offered words of encouragement to the winning school, while urging the students to set their eyes on returning to the region with the conveted title.

Covent Garden won the national title last year and has declared that they are out to regain it for a second year. The school through its headmistress Jean Skeete, who witnessed the regional final, said that she and the students are happy that they will be defending their national title.

She said that like the regional title, they have put a system in place aimed at ensuring that they can have a successful defence.
“We are very confident of regaining the national title and I am excited that we won the regional title, so as to defend the national title,” she said.

She added: “For a second year, Covent Garden is seeking to win the national JOF Haynes Debating title. We are confident and as the head teacher of the school, I can assure the schools, teachers and officers from RDC Region Four that our students will represent the region very well.”

Teacher at Bladen Hall Multilateral Termati Ramcharitar-Manohar, congratulated Covent Garden and said that while she is disappointed that her school did not win, she is confident that the region has an excellent representative in Covent Garden Secondary.

Bladen Hall Multilateral was represented by Abosede Osunbiji, Angelina Khanai and Mala Persaud, while Covent Garden was represented by Anzale Gonsalves, Jessica Jagdeo and Kenasha Dey.