The second event on the youth calendar for Bermuda's 400 anniversary kicks off next month in the form of debate and Bermuda school students are exited to be taking part.

Primary five and six students Island-wide will be taking part in the Dynamic Debaters and Learners Competition at the Prospect Primary School where the topic will be: "This house believes that the sailors who sailed to Bermuda before 1609 were in the wrong profession."

National Youth Forum Coordinator Gladstone Thompson said: "Dynamic Debater and Learning invited schools to send students they felt would be good to join the debate team."

There will be 22 debaters 11 on either side debating either the pros or cons.

Jettori Flemming of Heron Bay P6 said: "I am nervous about the competition and how well the adjudicators will act to the sayings of the debate."

Although all the participants will receive a Certificate of Participation, a $300 gift certificate will be awarded to the top performers.

Eleven-year-old Christian Chin Gurret said: "I tried to be prepared as much as possible but I don't think I am prepared as I should be."

The 22 debaters will take part in several debates. The top debaters will be chosen from those student who took part in at least four debates with the topics chosen by the adjudicators.

Six Grade William Campbell said: "I've been to a couple of debate competitions before but I wasn't really paying attention." The Saltus student added: "I never thought I would have the chance to actually be in the competition."

"The debaters have already had 10 sessions of training," Mr. Thompson said: "There has been a marked improvement in the orator skills and the ability to be persuasive in the oral rhetoric."

One of the parents said of the competition: "The idea of the debate team was introduced to Bermuda as a way of providing a non-athletic alternative where students can meet, interact and compete and the kids really enjoy participating.

"I have been involved since the beginning and every year they rise to the challenge and do great."

She added: "Thank goodness for those people like Gladstone for giving his time and commitment to these students."

The group will be meeting with Premier Dr Ewart Brown today at Camden.

There will be another invitation this Friday for anyone interested in joining the debated team.