The first-ever debating competition between Community Colleges in the Windward Islands will take place in Saint Lucia from March 2 as the Windward Islands Debating Competition (WIDC) will be hosted by the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC).
The other three participating colleges are the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Community College, Dominica State College and the T. A. Marryshow Community College representing Grenada.
The debate will run over a two-day period with teams participating in a semifinal and final round.
The competition follows an almost 40-year tradition of a similar competition in the Leeward Islands.
Head of the Caribbean Research Center at Medgar Evers College (CRC/MEC), Dr. J. A. George Irish, initiated the Leeward Islands competition and proposed that the Windward Islands adopt this programme as part of a strategy for Caribbean Youth Leadership Development.
The aim of the WIDC is also to reinforce the multi-disciplinary approach which is needed to assess the needs of Caribbean societies and nurture critical thinkers who will help shape the democratic societies of the Caribbean region.It will also serve to promote regional integration, collegial information sharing and cultural exchanges.
The Windward Island Debating Competition will be held under the patronage of Governor General Dame PearletteLouisy. It also has the support of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), the Caribbean Centre for Development Administration (CARICAD) and the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC).