The sixth form students from the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School who participated in the recent Annual Leeward Islands Debate have been congratulated for their performance.

Anguilla placed second in the competition with St. Kitts taking first place. Its debaters were Yolanda Hilliman, Vanessa Croft, Amber Woodley and Kerith Kentish.

The debaters along with supporters

The Anguillian students were commended by Guidance Counsellor Anita Martin-Ruan during a get-together with their supporters at a small snack and apple cider function held at the school. Members of the media were invited to publicise the event. Some of the refreshments were provided by Albert’s Supermarket.
“When you came first last year, we had a lot of publicity and now that you came second, you should have the same amount of publicity,” she told the students. “I just wanted to thank you. First or second you reached the finals. Congratulations and next year we are going back at it.”

One of the debaters, Amber Woodley commented in part: “We were all new debaters and were under a lot of extreme pressure because the Anguillians have been the reigning champions for six years and more – I think with one break when they lost to Nevis. I believe we did very well for our first time. We were very happy when we got through to the finals….We were very confident going into the debate because everybody had confidence in us but we knew that we had to be exceptionally better than St. Kitts to beat St. Kitts in St.Kitts.
“After the decision we did not have that much hard feeling because St. Kitts and Anguilla were close all through the debate. I think they were our best friends and we were their best friends and we already had a pact that we would be enemies just for two hours and there would be no hard feeling after that.”

The four debaters: Amber Woodley (front); Yolanda Hilliman, Vanessa Croft, Kerith Kentish and Teacher Charmaine Rey Richardson (back)

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