Although the finals were more than a month ago, I really have to acknowledge publicly the Garvey Maceo team that won the finals in the 2009 National Schools' Debate, aired on TVJ.

Giovanni Dennis, Orane Daniels and Andrew Blair were the school's representatives.

Talented and articulate

The first time I watched those three guys, I said to myself, if I can miss any other team, I cannot miss those youngsters from Garvey Maceo.

With every moot, they articulated themselves so well that even if a mosquito bit me, I just couldn't move! They never read their notes, they presented them and did such an excellent job, that it left the viewer wondering if they had any notes with them at all!

I had to write, especially in this time where a number of the young males in our society are falling behind, socially and academically. I felt a sense of pride when I saw that it was three males.

It would be remiss of me, however, not to mention and publicly give credit to the hard-working coaches Charmaine Langoth, Camille Peters and Jessergene Clarke.

I can only now appeal to business operators to take these three individuals under their wings. Yes, offer them summer jobs and allow their growth to continue in a world that they will be exploring somewhere in the near future.

Let me also quickly congratulate the defending champions Tacius Golding High - consisting of three females who, perhaps, would've won, were they not stopped in their tracks by the team from Garvey Maceo.

I lift my hat to you all.

I am, etc.

Andrea Lawrence

St Catherine