By Gloria Goffe, Gleaner WriterPORT MARIA, St. Mary:
IT WAS smooth sailing all the way for the team from Tacky High School in St. Mary, which won the first prize and walked away with the Beaches Boscobel Resort trophy at a debating competition hosted by the St. Mary Division of the Jamaica Fire Brigade.
The venue was the St. Mary Parish Library on October 29, when team captain Sasheena Silvera led the team to victory with her presentation. She emerged as best speaker and received a weekend for herself and family at Beaches Boscobel Resort, the sponsors of the competition.
Other team members, Tanyo Wynter and Leetham Grandison, were just as good in opposing the moot 'Awareness - The Key For A Fire Safety Community'. They were able to convince the judges Reverend Ainsley Davis, Mrs. Claudette Gordon a senior teacher at the Port Maria Primary School, and hotel manager of Beaches Boscobel, Jeremy Mutton, that awareness is good, but emphasised that education and training are necessary for fire safety precautions to be put into practice.
The team from Islington High School Kayon Williams, Yani-sha Nash (captain), and Keresha Brown presented the moot and gave several pointers in regards to awareness and prevention. However, they were unable to reach the top position. They were placed second and awarded with a trophy from Beaches Boscobel. The other school that participated was Annotto Bay High, which also presented the moot as a means of fire safety. The teams all received certificates of participation.
In summing up, Reverend Davis pointed out weaknesses such as nervousness and pronunciation. The team from Tacky displayed confidence which the others lacked, he said. The heated and lively discussions were very good and informative.
Mrs. Gordon also commended the teams, noting that it was obvious that a lot of research was done. She pointed to the lack of eye contacts from both Islington and Annotto Bay, and not enough self-confidence, which caused them to lose points.
In handing out the prizes, consisting of trophies and bags, hotel manager Jeremy Mutton also congratulated the teams. He was pleased that Beaches Boscobel was able to support the fire brigade by sponsoring the debate.
