Members of the Glenmuir High School team (from left) Erica Richards -- best debater, Natasha Brown and Crystal Powell receive their trophy for winning the May Pen Regional Heritage Debate Competition from Loren McCooke of National Commercial Bank, one of the sponsors.

CLARENDON -- Glenmuir High School in Clarendon came out on top in the recent regional finals of the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Heritage Debate Competition, held last Friday in the chambers of the Clarendon Parish Council.

The school received the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPSCo) trophy and the National Commercial Bank (NCB) trophy for winning the finals. Individual trophies and book vouchers, valued at $3,000 each, were also presented to the team members by the JPSCo, the main sponsor of the competition. The school's Erica Richards also walked away with the trophy for best debater.

Second place winner, Denbigh High School, received trophies from JAMALCo, starter accounts at the Clarendon Co-operative Credit Union and gift items from Maxie Department Store.

For placing third, Garvey Maceo High School also received gift packages from Maxie Department Store.

All the teams received certificates of participation and educational publications from the JIS.

In an interview with JIS News, Erica said she was overwhelmed to have won the best debater trophy, and added that this would motivate her to achieve even more.

"It has helped me to be quick, mentally; and in a competitive world, young people need to know how to sell themselves," she said. "I think that the JIS is doing profound work and I hope that they will continue, through this avenue, to help young people."

Commenting on the competition, Mercedes Boothe, teacher at Glenmuir High, said the well- organised competition was an important one which gave students the opportunity to learn more about their National Heroes.

"Having to do a debate forces you to do a lot of research and to learn how to debate controversial issues. The students learnt a lot and were able to use the techniques that bring about a good debate," she said. "The prizes in this competition were a great incentive. We really enjoyed preparing for it; we are very happy that we participated and even happier that we won."

Winsome Christie, manager of regional services at the JIS, said the debates began as a pilot programme in St Thomas in 1998, where some 40 schools participated.

She explained that the JIS was planning to host a national debate that would incorporate the winners from six JIS regions across the island. This will be held next February at the Seville Great House in St Ann.

The Clarendon finals involved Glenmuir High School proposing and Denbigh High School opposing the moot, 'Be it resolved: The agitation of George William Gordon for better social and economic conditions before 1865 has lost its value in shaping modern Jamaica'.

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