Bermuda Debate Team To Compete In Serbia
The 2024 Bermuda National Debate Team – Elias Baia [17, Berkeley], Annie Pursell [17, Somersfield], Christopher Maderios [15, Saltus], and Zarah Siddiqi [17, Somersfield] –are currently in Belgrade, Serbia preparing to represent Bermuda at the 2024 World Schools Debating Championship.
A spokesperson said, “The Bermuda Debate Society is excited to announce the 2024 Bermuda National Debate Team! The four strong team are currently in Belgrade, Serbia preparing to represent Bermuda at the 2024 World Schools Debating Championship [WSDC].
“Making the cut are Elias Baia [17, The Berkeley Institute], Annie Pursell [17, Somersfield Academy], Christopher Maderios [15, Saltus Grammar School], and Zarah Siddiqi [17, Somersfield Academy]. The team was selected from a larger pool of debaters, and after a rigorous tryout process will join the ranks of Bermuda WSDC alumni who have represented the island at the annual competition since 1991.
Christopher Madeiros, Elias Baia, Zarah Siddiqi, and Annie Pursell
“This year’s tournament is expected to draw teams from over 60 nations, and students will take part in at least 8 debates with the competition kicking off today, July 17th, and concluding on July 26th.
“It was a difficult selection process this year, with the coaching team being spoiled for choice, however I’d like to commend the students who made the team,” remarked the team coach, C. Kijaun Millett. “Opportunities such as these are incredible for our students, and we are grateful that we can help support them throughout this process.”
The spokesperson added, “Mr. Millett will be accompanying the students alongside team manager, Rio Morton, and this year’s Bermuda WSDC adjudicator, Brice Pursell.
The 2024 Bermuda WSDC Delegation [clockwise from top left]: Elias Baia, Annie Pursell, Rio Morton [Team Manager], C. Kijaun Millett [Team Coach], Brice Pursell [Adjudicator], Christopher Madeiros, and Zarah Siddiqi
“The team will participate in 4 prepared rounds of debate and 4 impromptu rounds before finding out if they make it to the knockout rounds. Topics this year include whether tourism destinations should limit tourists, whether France should withdraw from West Africa, whether states in the Western world should adopt secularism, and if the fallout from the Yugoslav war could have been better handled by a truth and reconciliation committee. For their impromptu debates students will find out the topic 1 hour before the debate and must prepare in that time with no aids or input from their coach.
BDS President, Jacari Brimmer-Landy said, “The Debate Society is proud to again send a contingent of intelligent, hardworking debaters to represent our country. As a past WSDC participant I can attest to the impacts competitions such as this can have on students, and I am confident they will grow both as debaters and individuals from this experience.”
The Bermuda Debate Society is a registered Bermuda charity [no. 325] that was established in 1991 with a vision to inspire, empower, and excite Bermuda’s young people through the Art of Debate. To learn more about the charity visit www.debate.bm.
