A member of Bermuda’s Youth Parliament beat an international field to win top honours at a Caribbean competition.

Halle Teart, an 18-year-old sociology and Africana studies student at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, came first in a debate on the topic of immigration.

Chrysda Smith, a 17-year-old Bermuda High School pupil, was also praised for her work in the Annual Regional Youth Parliament debate, held in the Parliament of Trinidad & Tobago.

Ms Teart and Ms Smith were on opposite sides of the debate motion: “Securing our borders to mitigate the effects of crime while striving to meet our humanitarian obligations.”

Ms Teart was on the government side and Ms Teart was an opposition member.

Her performance was praised by Russell Lister, the Youth Parliament senior adviser, who accompanied the pair to the conference.

He said: “I was not surprised, in particular when Ms Teart was challenged with a point of order.

“She did not ignore it nor give a quick response as she took the time to ensure that she addressed the point of order fully to dismiss any attempt to weaken her argument.”

Dennis Lister, Speaker of the House of Assembly, said: “Our Youth Parliamentarians are to be commended for their outstanding performance at the Annual Regional Youth Parliament.

“They indeed deserve our support for their tremendous international achievements.”

The youth debate was held last week as part of the 44th Annual Conference of the Caribbean, Americas and the Atlantic Region of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

Derek Burgess, Deputy Speaker of the House, Leah Scott, deputy Opposition leader, and Scott Simmons, a government backbencher, also travelled to Trinidad & Tobago to attend the conference.