The Saint Lucia National Youth Council in collaboration with the National Lotteries Authority has announced the finals of the National Youth Debate Competition.

The national competition featured a total of three rounds involving 16 district teams through as much as eight simultaneous debates at two-week intervals from August to November.

“Debate competitions have proven to be an effective method of engaging youth in critical thought and challenging their perspectives on issues of national interest,” the council said in a statement.

The topic for the final debate is “The current global economic environment demands that St. Lucia forms strategic alliances with any country that poses political and economic power, in order to advance the development of St. Lucia.”

This final debate takes place between the victorious teams of the three rounds —Mabouya Valley Youth & Sports Council vs. Vieux Fort South Youth & Sports Council.

The debate will be held at the Grande Riviere Human Resource Development Centre in Dennery North at 6:00pm followed immediately by the prize giving ceremony for all participants of the competition.

Youth and the general public are encouraged to come out and support.