The first ever debate on offshore oil drilling kicked off today at the Bliss Centre for the Performing Arts with the semi-finals between the Belize High School of Belize City and the Belize Rural High School of Double Head Cabbage Village. The event was the brainchild of the Coalition to Save our Natural Heritage, which has been vocal in its stance against offshore oil drilling. At the end of 40 minutes of arguments for and against, Belize High School, which argued against, edged out its rural competitor, which argued for offshore oil drilling. While some say that the arguments were on point, both Jordanny Williams of Belize High School and James Pollard of Belize Rural High School believe that public opinion had some bearing on the today’s results.
JORDANNY WILLIAMS
“It is much easier to say that we should not nationalize because most of the statistics point towards going away from that because if you take it on it will be another problem you have to deal with and it’s very informative if you look it up; it’s discussed more than you believe. I thought it was a small topic but when you research it, it’s very broad and it has many different aspects towards it. So, yea it’s not that difficult but it’s very helpful.”
MARION ALI
“Do you think that because the debate for your team was to band that makes it easier than if your stance would have been to allow offshore drilling?”
JORDANNY WILLIAMS
“I believe that the side that we got was easier than the other side but both sides have beneficial points, it’s just how you deliver them as well but I am kind of happy that we got this out of the way.”
JAMES POLLARD
“The majority of the country is against it so it is very hard to go against what everyone is saying, like they say the majority wins.”
MARION ALI
“But do you think that your placing second had anything to do with what the majority of the country feels or how strong your debate was presented?”
JAMES POLLARD
“I believe it was based on both because what the country has said is a major impact and the content of our debates was the second major point.”
Meanwhile, Judy Waight, the Coalition’s Education and Outreach Officer, Judy Waight, says that the topic is one that needs to stay in the mainstream dialogue because of its potential effect on our future.
JUDY WAIGHT
“We know that the issue of oil has been constant; almost every other week we have some comment. It’s time that we start doing research and start talking more about it. We are starting at the high school and hopefully we take it up to the tertiary level. Next Monday we take it to the Stann Creek District and we are having Ecumenical High School versus George Town Technical High School and it will be held at the Sacred Heart Parish Hall starting at 10 am.”
The final debate will take place in early 2014.
View the full article