Anguilla, which has been part of the Leeward Islands Literary and Debating Competition for some fifteen years, is back in the debate after a one-year suspension.

Debating Team on route to St. Kitts to participate in debating competition

“We are back in the competition this year and we want to have a good showing and to demonstrate some national pride,” said Quincy Gumbs Jr, President of the Anguilla Debating Society. “We have made amends for our suspension and we have a brand new team and focus led by our captain, Sangrina Harris.”

The competition started on Thursday in Anguilla with a banquet for the debaters. Anguilla’s first debate versus Antigua was on the topic “Popular Caribbean culture is the main contributor to the degradation of West Indian women”. Anguilla was not down to debate on Friday night, the arrangement being that if its team were to win on Thursday they would debate on Saturday night against St.Kitts. The topic that night is “US Foreign Policy is the driving force for terrorist threats to that country.” If Anguilla wins, the team will be debating against whoever wins on the third night. The topic on that night is “The proliferation of gang violence is due to the negligent or absentee father.”

“I feel very confident. My team has put in a lot of hard work and we are dedicated to the cause,” Sangrina Harris, one of the six Anguillian debaters stated. The others are Shountae Boothe, Quinson Gumbs, Fedelia Richardson, Olufunmike Banks-Devonish and Melissa Mussington.

They are grateful to a number of teachers and other persons and the Anguilla Library Service for their assistance and in particular to the Caribbean Commercial Bank and other sponsors for their support.

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