MUN TEAM – Members of the champion Model United Nations debate team of Lucaya International School are pictured here with Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister, the Hon. Fred Mitchell (centre left) and Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville (centre right), October 10, 2014. Left to right in the photo are: Sharon Wilson, Headmistress; Chad Haddad; Cheryl Jennings Blanchet, Head of Modern Languages and MUN Coach; Andrew Goodrum; Marlena Leonard; Sophie Paine, Head Girl and team member; Mike Lowery, Head of Secondary School; and Gitte Goodrum, Chairperson of LIS Board of Directors. (BIS Photos/Vandyke Hepburn)
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FREEPORT,
The Bahamas – Lucaya International School in Freeport, Grand Bahama, got a
visit from the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, the Hon. Fred
Mitchell, on October 10, following the return of the school’s Model United
Nations debate team’s visit to New York City, where they attended the Minister
Mitchell’s address at the 69th General Assembly of the United
Nations on September 30th 2014.
Lucaya
International School (LIS) earlier this year emerged the winner of the National
Model United Nations Debate Competition against 17 teams from schools across
The Bahamas, and was awarded the visit to the United Nations by the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Rotary Clubs of The Bahamas.
According
to Alisa Rolle and Cheryl Jennings Blanchet of LIS, Mr. Mitchell’s diplomatic
skills were on stage for the students as he shared stories about his childhood,
growing up in New Providence – telling them about his desire to be a politician
at the age of ten.
He admitted
that he acquired his determination from his mother’s assertive attitude, and
that he won his first election in grade seven -- at St. Augustine’s College in
New Providence, when he ran for class president.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, the Hon. Fred Mitchell as he spoke to students of Lucaya International School last Friday. (BIS Photos/Vandyke Hepburn)
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The
Minister also shared his opinion on the possibility of lowering the voting age,
and challenged students to become anything they set their minds to. He reminded them that the road to success is
not easy and neither is high school.
Following
what was described as a heartfelt and inspiring speech, the Foreign Affairs
Minister then opened the floor to the LIS student body for questions.
The LIS students
were well-prepared in their questions about a variety of current relevant
topics including the proposed CARICOM project for reparations for people of
African descent; Value Added Tax in The Bahamas; changes in Immigration;
current as well as future environmental issues affecting small island states
and more. (BIS Photos/Vandyke Hepburn)
