NCU team for Global Health Debates

A TWO-MEMBER team from the Northern Caribbean University (NCU) will this summer go up against top debate teams from universities across the world in the Global Health Debates (GHD) which will be held in Manila, Philippines.

The Global Health Debates is an international debate competition that will discuss significant global health issues using parliamentary debating techniques.

The debates are organised by the Global Forum on Research and Innovation for Health (Forum 2015), a biennial conference of global leaders in the health sector.

Tournament Director Elmer Cruz has indicated that the debates will seek to address health issues facing low- and middle-income countries.

“Through Global Health Debates, motions derived from the various conversation points will bring meaningful dialogue to Forum 2015. The tournament will be held simultaneously with Forum 2015,” he said.

Assistant Professor of Communication at NCU, Noreen Daley has been pioneering the introduction of British parliamentary debating at the Mandeville-based institution and intends to expose her students to as much global competition as possible.

Two such students are Delmas Brown and Sasha Rowe, who will be representing Jamaica at the Global Health Debates.

A LEARNING OPPORTUNITY

Brown is a business administration major in his second year, who sees the debates as a learning opportunity.

“For me, going to Manila, Philippines, is not just another debate, it is a moment of institutional pride, intellectual match-up and most importantly, a learning experience... my team will be able to compete against the best minds,” he said.

Brown intends to share his global experience with young debaters.

“This speaks well for our region as we will be able to come back and give the knowledge received to the next generation of debaters who in turn will carry on the rich heritage of intellectual discourse,” he added.

Rowe is a journalism student and will be seeking to bring home the first place award.

“This August, we hope to travel to Manila where we will represent not only NCU, but Jamaica and by extension the western world. The ripple effect of the team attending the competition is endless,” she said.