(Hamilton) -- The Bermuda national debate team has returned home after recording four wins at the 21st annual World Schools Debate Championships which took place February 9-19 in Athens, Greece.

The five Bermuda debaters --- Jacari Brimmer-Landy, Ellisse Johnston, Michelle Kelly, Nikki-Lynn Marshall and Nicholas Rinehimer – as well as their accompanying coach, Gladstone Thompson, and adjudicator, Susan Panchaud attended the competition thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Montpelier Re Foundation.

More than 350 students, coaches and adjudicators from 39 countries took part in the English language competition which used a three person, parliamentary-style debate format. 

Despite such stiff competition the Bermuda team was very successful with a total of four wins out of eight rounds of debate ending up 22nd  in the final ranking, ahead of strong teams such as USA and Israel. In terms of individual results, Michelle Kelly tied for 35th overall which is a great result for Bermuda. Topics fielded by the Bermuda team included whether cultural treasures should be returned to  their  areas  of  origin, the expanded use of nuclear energy, whether  terrorism  is ever justified, the ban of smoking in public places, whether  public  services are best run by private companies, whether or not to eat meat and other interesting topics.

Jennifer Haworth, president of the Bermuda Debate Society and former Worlds debater, said: “We are extremely grateful to the Montpelier Re Foundation for its generous donation to our organization. The debaters have returned to Bermuda not only better debaters, but they have been enriched by the wonderful experience of traveling to another country and meeting others from around the world. Congratulations to the debaters on their success. Your hard work paid off!”

Wayne Jackson, chairman of the Montpelier Re Foundation said, “The Montpelier Re Foundation was delighted to send the debate team to the World’s and we congratulate these young people on their success. The key elements of debate -- logical reasoning, powers of persuasion and public speaking -- are all important life skills and the Bermuda Debate Society is doing a good job at helping young people excel in this area.

The Bermuda Debate team prepared for the event during 2008 under the guidance of local National Debate Society Coaches, Christianna Hiles and Gladstone Thompson along with other students who meet on a weekly basis. Once  the  final  team  was  selected  in  December  practice sessions were increased  to  several  times  a  week to help the students prepare for Greece.

Adjudicator Susan Panchaud said that the World’s also provided a fantastic opportunity for the students to experience another culture.

She said, “Since the debates were held daily in several host schools in and around Athens, students were able to not only interact with participants from around the world but also with students in the various schools that hosted the debates each day. When they were not debating, the students were given the opportunity to visit the Acropolis and other sites around the city and were also able to sample some authentic Greek cuisine.”

New Zealand was the victor of the 2009 Worlds with a 6 to 1 win over England. The winning debate took place on the motion, “This House believes that governments should grant amnesties to all illegal immigrants”.

The next World’s tournament is scheduled to take place in Qatar in 2010 and will mark the first time the tournament will be held in the Middle East.

Students interested in debate should contact the Bermuda Debate Society at  bermuda.debate.society@gmail.com for further details.