MONTEGO BAY, St James — Cornwall College walked away champions in the Sandals Environmental Debate competition held last week at the Mount Alvernia High School in Montego Bay, after defeating neighbours Mount Alvernia High.

During the debate, hosted by Sandals resorts in the Montego Bay region, Mount Alvernia and Cornwall College presented arguments for and against the moot: ‘Be it resolved that Jamaicans should grow what they eat and eat what they grow’.

The debate was organised with an aim of involving the youth in discussions regarding agriculture and encouraging their participation in the industry. This follows the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries recent calls for greater youth involvement in the sector, in a bid to develop the industry into a modern, sustainable and internationally competitive one.

Opposing the moot, Cornwall College, according to the judges, enunciated their arguments more clearly and was more effective in discrediting their opponents’ arguments. Its second speaker, Tajay Platt, was adjudged best speaker.

Mount Alvernia’s ardent speakers advanced the argument that Jamaicans should in fact ‘grow what they eat and eat what they grow.’ The team of Krishna Kumar, Jodene Allen and Carol Madu, presented passionately and built strong arguments in support of their claims.

The Cornwall College gents, however, stood firm in opposing the moot. Among the arguments they presented was the threat that natural disasters and steep rises in fuel and fertiliser cost pose to our local agricultural industry. They also drew reference to the hospitality industry, stating that in order to compete on the international stage, Jamaica cannot rely solely on locally cultivated crops, but must be able to adequately meet the demands of its international clients.

Following the debate, representatives from Sandals resorts, the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) and the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry also weighed in on the topic.

Guest speaker and newly elected President of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Nathan Robb, stated that the chamber is fully behind the notion of a ‘grow what we eat, eat what we grow economy.’

He argued that as the Jamaican dollar continues to slide, the country will always have to buy at a more expensive price.

“As such all efforts must be made to cut back on our spend by investing in local crop production and furthermore seriously go after international markets and look at what it is that Jamaica has to sell to the world,” he explained.

Meanwhile, Kirk Evans, the RADA marketing officer for St James, noted that it is not all doom and gloom for the agricultural industry.

“Last year was a record-breaking year for good quality ginger production. This year, we are on our way to increase by 15 percent,” he said. “Other crops that are also doing well in the parish of St James are dasheen, pumpkin, peppers, plantains and banana.”

He commended the Sandals team for staging the event, as he urged the youngsters not to shy away from the agricultural industry.

Mark Pike, Programmes Manager for Business Processes and Administration at Sandals Resorts International, however, challenged the efforts of the island’s agricultural stakeholders, noting that agriculture must be viewed as a business.

Speaking specifically from the standpoint of the hospitality industry, Pike noted that there remains a challenge with supply and demand.

He noted that in support of the local economy, companies such as Sandals would always endeavour to utilise many local Jamaican products.