Impassioned debate sets tone of First Youth Parliament sitting  

DPI, GUYANA, Thursday, August 10, 2017

After days of intense training, the 40 members of the third Annual Youth Parliament participated in the first sitting with a heated debate among the members.

The motions debated in the first half of the session were, “Capping on CSEC subjects, Final Settlement of the Guyana/ Venezuela controversy and improving systems to combat suicide in Guyana.”

The young parliamentarians took charge of the sitting as they impressed the audience with readiness and confidence.  There was one exception, with a student who failed to deliver on behalf of the opposition team.

The first motion was moved by Honourable Koby John, Shadow Minister of Education. The Opposition argued that limiting the students without prior consultation was unfair.

Minister of Education, Chantel Dey in her support for the motion, cap on CSEC subjects said the limits placed on the number of subjects written by students will only aid them to decide their career path.

“It has been argued that students choose to write these many subjects

because they are indecisive as to what career they would like to choose. Well this is exactly why the proactive members of government have enacted career guidance counselling sessions.”

Dey continued, “Limiting the subjects makes it easier for students to focus on their career paths by eliminating or reducing too many options.”

However, opposing the moot, Minister of Citizenship, Mariah Austin argued that Guyana is the only country without a cap on CSEC subjects, as she made reference to the education system in Trinidad.

“According to the Caribbean Council Examination headquarters, Trinidad and Tobago have been dominating CSEC.

Statistics show that over the past years there has been repetition, which is Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, St. Maarteen and only one Guyana at 10^th place.”

The second motion Final Settlement of the Guyana/ Venezuela controversy was moved by Honourable Akeaba Singh, Minister of Foreign Affairs. However, Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sherlyn Semple representing the opposition team left her colleagues in awe with her energetic delivery.

The third motion was moved by Honourable Ramona Castello, Shadow Minister of Public Health moved the third motion, improving systems to combat suicide in Guyana.

Government Officials, teachers of the various student parliamentarians and members of the public attended and gave full support to the first sitting.

The second half of the sitting will continue today Thursday with debates over the motion ‘Local oil refinery.’ It will conclude with a tallying of the scores by the judges, followed by the announcement of the winning side.

 

 

 

 

By: Crystal Stoll