Press Releases

Georgetown, Guyana – In a thrilling conclusion to Match 4 of the second round of the Speaker’s National Youth Debating Competition 2025, the St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church Youth Group triumphed over the University of Guyana’s African Cultural Association, securing their place in Round 3 of the national contest. The match was held virtually at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 17, 2025.

Debating the thought-provoking moot, “Artificial intelligence cannot be regulated,” the St. Robert Bellarmine team, representing the Proposition, skilfully dismantled the Opposition’s arguments to earn a commanding average score of 228 points, outpacing their opponents' score of 207 points.

Both teams impressed the judges with their ability to incorporate local, regional, and international perspectives into their arguments. However, the judges also noted the need for deeper engagement with the breadth of AI’s capabilities and its impact on various sectors, especially within a Guyanese context.

Standing out among her peers, Ms. Jael Laud of the St. Robert Bellarmine team was awarded Best Debater for her eloquent delivery, compelling presence, and persuasive reasoning that captivated both the judging panel and online viewers.

This victory marks a remarkable achievement for the Region 9-based youth group, as it is the second time they have defeated a team from the University of Guyana, further cementing their reputation as a rising force in this year’s competition.

Viewers are encouraged to tune in live via the Parliament of Guyana’s Website, Facebook, and YouTube pages to witness the future leaders of Guyana engage in powerful discourse.

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