By CHARLENE BHARATT Thursday, February 14 2008

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MOVING ON: Rolana Bernard (left) and Andrea Thomas from South East Port-of-Spain Government Secondary School relax after winning yesterday's round of ...

SOUTH EAST Port-of-Spain Government Secondary School emerged winners of the second round match in the Royal Bank of Trinidad and Tobago (RBTT) Young Leaders Great Debate after beating Arima Government Secondary School yesterday at the National Library (NALIS) in Port-of-Spain.

This year’s motion “Be it resolved that Technology has created a gap between the generations that cannot be bridged,” was fervently argued by both teams throughout the debate. Arima Govt students’ Renetta Lequay and Kabeena Miguel comprised the proposing team. Lequay put forward persuasive arguments saying that “the generation gap caused by technology cannot be bridged because the older generation does not care to learn about the various inventions.”

Similarly, Miguel proved to be a formidable match for the opposing team as she added that the generation gap could not be bridged because “as an individual age, they are less receptive to taking in information”. She said firmly argued that “it is different to adapt when you are born and cultured in a different time”. She closed her arguments by stating “forward ever, backward never”

Students of the South East Port-of-Spain Government Secondary School were a force to be reckoned with as they were instrumental in delivering their counter-arguments. Rolana Bernard and Andrea Thomas described the motion of the debate as “cynical.” They said the “generation gap can, must and is already being bridged” through the education system, internet, workplace and community where the young are able to interact with the old and teach them the necessary skills to utilise modern gadgets and appliances.

Bernard’s and Andrea’s use of local examples and statistics proved their point that through the education system in Trinidad, older individuals are being offered adult literacy courses allowing the gap to be bridged.

After deliberation, the judges agreed that both parties made commendable research efforts, however, none of the speakers used their time wisely. At the end, the judges ruled in favour of the South Port-of-Spain Government Secondary School who are now entitled to move on to the next round.