T.A. Marryshow Community College debate team member Khia Marryshow.
CASTRIES, St. Lucia--The highly anticipated Recycle OECS Windward Islands (W.I.) Inter-College Debate Finals culminated in an exciting showdown between Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC) of St. Lucia and T.A. Marryshow Community College (TAMCC) of Grenada, as the two institutions tackled the critical issue of plastic pollution in the region.
SALCC’s team, Shyne Savoury and Sade Gustave, passionately argued that responsible consumption is more effective than recycling systems in reducing plastic pollution. They built their case on three key points:
* End-of-life measures like recycling alone cannot effectively curb pollution;
* The small economies of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) make large-scale recycling unsustainable; and
* Developing countries unfairly bear the burden of recycling while plastic producers face limited accountability.
Meanwhile, TAMCC’s representatives, Khia Marryshow and Joshua Noel, delivered a compelling counterargument in favour of recycling systems as a necessary and effective solution to plastic pollution. Their points emphasised:
* The impracticality of solely relying on consumption control in the OECS;
* The proven effectiveness of improved recycling infrastructure; and
* The need for a dual approach that combines both responsible consumption and recycling efforts.
A distinguished panel of judges, representing key sectors such as sustainable agriculture, tourism, consumer goods, climate change and waste management, was deeply impressed by the level of analysis and engagement from both teams.
Despite a close contest, TAMCC emerged victorious with 1,042 points, narrowly surpassing SALCC’s 1,025 points. In recognition of outstanding performance, Savoury of SALCC was unanimously named Best Speaker of the Finals.
Chamberlain Emmanuel, Head of the Environmental Sustainability Division (ESD) at the OECS Commission, underscored the broader significance of this youth-driven initiative: "This debate series is designed to explore the perspective of our youth on these pillars and to help mobilise and advocate for the transformation. We anticipate that this exchange of ideas will influence the refining of the model and will influence you, your peers and your policy makers and the wider community to be responsible stewards and innovative change makers.”
Supported in part by Unicomer Saint Lucia, the Recycle OECS Inter-College Debate Series reaffirms the OECS Commission’s commitment to fostering youth engagement in environmental sustainability. The event showcased the passion, intellect and vision of the region’s next generation of leaders, proving that they are ready to take on the challenge of building a greener, more sustainable future for the OECS. ~ OECS ~
