Bermuda’s student debate team represented the Island with confidence at the Pan American debates held in Claremont, California.

Team coach Gladstone Thompson, principal of St David’s Primary School, also found himself elected to the executive board of the Pan American Association after being voted in as secretary.

“We debated six times,” Mr Thompson said of the excursion, which took place from January 5 to 11. “We won one of them, had one split decision, and lost four of them. But it’s interesting — as an experienced coach I felt some of the adjudications were very unfortunate. For me overall, what I liked was that the children grew so much as debaters.”

The Bermuda Pan American team comprises Berkeley Institute students Rhianna Allen and Lucien Anderson, both S4, Kimika Jackson (S3) and Tyrese Coakley (S1). “Some went as emerging debaters — now they are all much better,” Mr Thompson said. “I really think they all did exceptionally well. We’re looking forward to choosing the team to go to Singapore for the World Schools Debating Championships in July. This has been good preparation, getting them ready for more robust activity.”

The trip was funded by the Bermuda Debate Society, with the help of parents.