Four young Bahamian students are on their way to New York to attend the 57th Session of the United Nations General Assembly Debate.
Angelique Sawyer, Jenikka Curry, Alana Kemp and TeShalla Clarke of Aquinas College are the 2002 grand prizewinners of the Mock United Nations Session (MUNS). They won the competition, which is sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of The Bahamas and supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on February 25th of this year.
The Aquinas team, which represented Uzbekistan-one of the former Soviet Union countries-delivered a forceful presentation on the topic “What should Be The International Community’s Response to Acts of Terrorism?”
Sixteen schools from New Providence and the Family Islands participated in the fiercely contested debate and according to Charles Sealey, Chairman of MUNS, it was very difficult to choose the winner.
“As a matter of fact,” Mr. Sealey said, “the teams that came first, second and third were separated by a point differential of one.”
While in New York, the four young women will be present for The Bahamas statement to the United Nations General Assembly which will be delivered by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell on September 14.
Additionally, Bahamas Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Anthony Rolle has planned a programme for the students which will include a tour of the UN building. They will also meet with representatives of the UN Secretariat.
Minister Mitchell congratulated the students and gave them words of encouragement.
He referred to the achievements of Colin Powell, Secretary of State-the United States counterpart to the Minister of Foreign Affairs- who was born in the United States to Jamaican immigrants and said it shows that “by your own efforts, you can raise yourself up to the highest heights.”
He also said that he hoped they would “drink it all in” and take advantage of the experience and develop themselves so they could live up to their aspirations.
Minister Mitchell presented the students with their tickets, a trophy and other awards at a ceremony in Tuesday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ headquarters on East Hill Street.
The Rotary Clubs have been the sponsor of the MUNS since it developed out of the 1995 celebrations of the 50th Anniversary of the United Nations.
Other corporate partners involved in the MUNS programme are Bahamasair, the Radisson Hotel and Cable Bahamas.
Eleventh grade student, Alana Kemp, said she was “elated for the opportunity to travel for the event and to participate in international dialogue.”
Jenikka Curry said that they worked hard to win the competition. She also expressed interest in meeting with the Permanent Representative of Uzbekistan to the United Nations.
TeShalla Clarke who has graduated from Aquinas College since their victory is undaunted by traveling to New York so close to the anniversary of the September 11 tragedies.
“I just want to interact with other people and learn their culture,” she said.
Angelique Sawyer, who said she is contemplating a career in international relations said that she expected to gain a better understanding of the world and people in general because people from all around the world and their cultures are represented at the United Nations.
“To experience this at this age will just open my mind and create a better understanding I think of the world and what’s happening around us, ” she said.
