The Maranatha Academy emerged winners of the 2023 Inter-High School AIDS Debate competition held at Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort and Spa on Tuesday, February 28.
Maranatha outclassed eight other schools across the Turks and Caicos Islands, to take home the top prizes of tablet computers and trophies. One of their speakers, Kirk Dixon, was named second best speaker of the competition.
The winning team comprised Kirk Dixon of form three, who was the first speaker; Jonathan Daniel of form four, who was the second speaker, and Amena James of form two, the third speaker.
Maranatha debated the Clement Howell High School and prevailed. And after five rounds of competition with other participating schools debating each other, the Blue Hills outfit, coached by Jodian Scott-Banton, was declared the overall winners.
“This is the first time that we have been participating in the competition since the COVID-19 Pandemic,” declared Scott-Banton. “In prior years the Maranatha Academy used to excel in this competition, where the school won numerous times.”
She said their return to the tournament in 2023, instantly reaped the richest of rewards.
“This is our return after sitting out for a few years, and not taking home the title. We returned this year, and we topped the competition,” she said, pointing out that the team, for the most part, was inexperienced, with just one member having tasted inter-school debate.
“I am especially elated that we were able to win with a relatively young and inexperienced team. For two of the three speakers, this was the first time they were entering a debate competition, and I am especially happy to note that our first speaker copped the title of second best speaker of the competition,” she continued.
In the meantime, Scott-Banton said she believes the win would serve as an vehicle of motivation to other students of the institution.
“I know that this would be a source of motivation to all the students to continue striving for excellence,” she Scott-Banton noted.
The National Inter-High School AIDS Debate is now in its 25th year of competition.
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