September 10th 2011
Young People Debate Mandatory National Service
By Calixte George Jr.

Young people came together at the Gros Islet Secondary School Auditorium on the evening of Sunday August 21st to debate whether Saint Lucia needed mandatory national service between the ages of eighteen and twenty-four. Mandatory National Service as a contemporary concept rose out of countries such as the United Kingdom during World War II as a way of mobilising human resources, particularly among the youth, into productive initiatives that are important to the state. Countries like Germany and Israel still use mandatory national service to support their armed forces and other non-military service agencies. In the United States programmes such as the Peace Corps allow citizens to give back to a good cause, in that special case to undertake and support projects around the world.
The issue was debated by two sides of two persons, with an initial round of fifteen minutes per side, followed by a second round of arguments of ten minutes and a final round of five minute rebuttals. The proposing side was led by Mr. Henri-Jacques Mangal with Ms. Blossom Fregis supporting the argument. The opposing side led by Mr. Darnell Boxhill and seconded by Mr. Donovan Foster argued that while they agreed with national service, it should remain voluntary. They also advised that it be incentivized with a child investment fund in which Government places a special endowment for every child born. This fund would accrue interest and mature upon completion of that individual completing some form of national service.

The individual would then be able to source this money as business capital start-up or money for college. In the end, the Boxhill/Foster duo was victorious, according to the three judge panel led by Dr. Kentry Jn. Pierre, Ms. Anthusa Simei and Ms. Maundy Lewis.
The night also saw an elocution event which aimed at giving young people a shot at public speaking. Participants included Olivianne Weekes, Ian Constantine, Chanice Leopold, Kadeem Pierre-Louis, Safia Clarke, Kennia Hyacinth, Lianne Boxhill, Amie Luvilia Phillip and Kimani Thomas, who was the youngest participant at age seven. All participants received prizes ranging from whale watching and dinners to book awards.
The event was organized by Women of Gros Islet, a group under the patronage of Senator Emma Hippolyte. Organisers indicated that they felt the event was successful and should be repeated as it could play a meaningful contribution in promoting youth expression.

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