Independence Junior College is advancing to the semi-finals in the Social Security Board's National Debate Competition. 8 schools are competing in this year's series and the preliminary rounds began today at the George Price Center in Belmopan. First up was Independence Junior College versus San Pedro Junior College. The topic was "Be it resolved that the signing of the UNCAC will benefit Belize's economic, political, financial and social position." Here are the opening statements from each team and we also spoke to the SSB's communication officer about this initiative.
Arnold Gomez - Independence Junior College, Affirmative
"Be it resolve that the signing of the United Nations Convention against Corruption or the UNCAC will benefit Belize's economic, political, financial and social position. In today's debate we will show you how Belize can benefit you significantly from the signing the UNCAC. Therefore, it is very important for Belize to be a part of this convention in order to diminish and hopefully abolish the corruption that our country is presently experiencing. In today's world corruption is manifested in vast amounts. Corruption is one of the greatest factors hindering development and stifling the positive development of a nation. In Belize corruptions affects the growth of our nation adversely. It reduces the governments income and creates and inequality in distribution of income and wealth. Corruption affects our nation's development, economically, financially, socially and politically."
Diana Cal - San Pedro Junior College, Negative
"We are not in favour for the government to signed UNCAC agreement. Our country is not financially in the position to compromise to this agreement by Belize agreeing to this convention, we will be faced with a lot of changes and I quote from Mr. Christian Salazar Vokesman, UN President Coordinator "we are also conscious that this is a start of a lot of work in terms of modernizing the state, so that the state and society can fit to be more efficient, more transparent in that sense, minimize and even eliminate corruption. Our economy is at its lowest where every sector has reduced its production and exploration. Our imports are lower than ever before as well as it's not because people are not demanding it but because they simply can't afford it.""
Janice Eiley - Communications Officer, SSB
"This is a third debate, this is the third year that we have engaged in this practice to inform and educate and involve students in this practice. This debate is a little different than the one in the previous years. It came forth because of the way its set up, its 3 rounds, there's a preliminary phase, there is the semifinals and the national phase. During this preliminary phase all 8 participating institutions will be debating on the same topic. The preliminary phase takes place in 2 debates per day so its 2 days today March 3rd and on Tuesday March 7th. What's important for these events is because most of the topics that are selected for the debate topics that affects us as Belizeans and impact the society economically, political, socially. So, there are topics that it's to generate conversation and it's also to give young people a voice, to involve themselves, to learn, to educate, to be able to speak with knowledge, not just speak loosely about stuff that they do not fully understand. So, the goal really is to inform and educate and get our young persons to have a voice, to speak."
So as we told you, Independence Junior College came out victorious. Arnold Gomez the winning team told us more about their preparation.
Arnold Gomez - Independence Junior College, Affirmation
"It was a lot of work to be done in only 2 weeks' time. What we did, we just try to get some time out of school, we met at homes, we try to research, we try to the library, we try to get these people that are more into politics to help us, in their opinions what is the UNCAC. We have a very good coach, she is very intelligent, she was always pushing us and that's how everything came out."
Courtney Weatherburne, 7News
"How would you evaluate your team's performance today for the debate? Did you all see that you needed improvement or needed to do more research? How would you evaluate your performance?"
Arnold Gomez - Independence Junior College, Affirmation
"We need improvement, we need to do more research, but then despite we were nervousness and our first time on a stage doing a debate, it's my first time debating, I think we did excellent, an excellent job. We are more involved into the country's problems, we love it."
The finals will be held on April 7th at the Bliss Center in Belize City.
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