SIXTEEN youth groups from across the country are expected to go head-to-head at the second annual Speaker’s National Youth Debating Competition, which will commence on Friday, April 8, 2022.

The competition was on Tuesday launched in the Chamber of the National Assembly.

Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir said the purpose of the competition is to promote the work of the country’s democratic institutions, in that the intention is to bring Parliament closer to the people, while ensuring the involvement of those of the younger generation.

“They will be debating, while at the same time exposing themselves to parliamentary procedures, and promoting awareness of the National Assembly and the work of parliament among people,” Nadir said.

He noted that Guyana’s Parliament has signed on to the Inter-Parliamentary Union Campaign, “Say Yes” to youth participation in parliament.

Parliament Office will be expending a total of $10 million to undertake this major national activity.

The participating groups in this year’s debate are from all 10 administrative regions except Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

Linden Super Stars will face Golden OM Dharmic Youth Organisation in the first debate. This year, an automatic matching computer software will be used to randomly pair teams, and choose the moots.

Reigning champions, the Cummings Lodge Youth Movement, will be defending their title. Several other groups from last year’s competition are also returning.

According to Nadir, one group that will be noticeably missing from this year’s debate is the University of Guyana Student Society (UGSS), which made the decision to not take part in this year’s competition.

Debates will take place on Tuesdays and Fridays, and will see debaters making their presentations physically at parliament chambers, or via a virtual platform.

The judges for this year’s competition are Valarie Goorsammy-Smith, Miracle Miller, Indra Chandarpal, Neaz Subhan, Monette Garnett-Christopher, Delon Fraser, Anisha Mohamed, Melissa Dow-Richardson, and Reon Miller.