Emotions ran high and spirits soared as Charlemont High School, from Linstead, St Catherine, emerged as the champions of the 2024-25 National Tourism Debate Championship.

The competition, which features a 16-school knockout format, begins annually in October and culminates in April. This year’s final saw Charlemont defeat the defending champions, Knox College, in a closely contested debate, scoring 1,014 points to Knox’s 967.

In 2022, Charlemont placed third, taking home the bronze medal. But under the leadership of coach Dale-Dillon Bennett, the team returned stronger than ever.

“It has been six years and we are truly overjoyed,” Bennett said.

Charlemont High and defending champions Knox College faced off in a closely contested final of the 2024-25 National Tourism Debate Championship.

The final motion debated was: “Caribbean tourism is sufficiently resilient to survive the tariff regime imposed by the US.”

Kayda Lee McLean of Charlemont, who joined the debate team in 2022 at just 13 years old, was named Best Speaker of the competition.

Chief Judge Aldain Reid, representing the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), noted: “The margin was slim and both teams did exceptionally well.”

The event was hosted at PBCJ Studios and broadcast island-wide, a move Executive Director Michelle Tulloch described as strategic.

The judges: (From left) Chief Judge Aldain Reid, representing the JHTA; Yaneike Sailsman of Tourism Booster Online and Gavay Watt representing the Jamaica Observer.

“Our move to PBCJ is to provide national broadcast to the entire island because we believe there is much to learn from the information that is researched by these magnificent students. We are all proud – and so are our sponsors,” Tulloch said.

Now in its 15th year, the National Tourism Debate was founded and continues to be spearheaded by Tulloch.

Judging the finals alongside Reid were Yaneike Sailsman of Tourism Booster Online and Gavay Watt representing the Jamaica Observer, who together faced the tough task of selecting a winner in a competition that highlighted critical thinking, research skills, and passionate advocacy.

The competition was sponsored by Royalton Resorts and the JHTA.