Since 1991 Bermuda has participated each year in the World Schools Debate Competition. The highest level of senior school debate in the world, the BDS is proud to sponsor the national team as they represent Bermuda each year.
Meet the 2022 Bermuda National Debate Team
Annie Pursell
Somersfield Academy
This is Annie Pursell’s third year participating on the Bermuda WSDC team. Annie, who is 16 years old, has won school awards for Spanish, tournament awards for debate and public speaking, and has been on high honors for several years. Annie has a dog, and enjoys swimming, dancing, and playing the piano and guitar.
Chris Madeiros
Saltus Grammar School
Chris Madeiros is 15 years old, and this is his first year participating in WSDC. He has been debating for four years both in Bermuda and internationally. In his free time he enjoys watching and playing tennis, writing, and volunteers at DolphinQuest. He also has a wonderful dog named Amigo.
Elias Baia
The Berkeley Institute
Elias Baia is 17 years old and while this is his first year competing at WSDC he is passionate about debate and has been involved for a number of years, initially being inspired by his brother’s WSDC participation. Outside of debate Elias enjoys drama, squash, youth parliament and going to the gym.
Zarah Siddiqi
Somersfield Academy
Zarah Siddiqi is 16 years old and originally from Pakistan. In the future Zarah wants to work in the United Nations, ideally addressing social issues regarding children. Aside from working towards her career aspirations Zarah likes to play and coach tennis, and is the Chair of Diversity on the Leadership Council at her school.
Coaching Team
Kijaun Millett
Team Coach
Kijaun Millett, our Team Coach, has been involved in debating in some capacity for over 20 years, beginning his engagement in primary school and eventually representing Bermuda as a debater at WSDC 2010 in Doha, Qatar. Kijaun took over as coach of the national team in 2019 and enjoys being able to give back and help mentor upcoming debaters. Outside of debate Kijaun enjoys playing tennis, spending time outdoors, and travelling to experience new places and embrace new cultures.
Rio Morton
Team Manager
Rio Morton is our Team Manager and has been a supporter of debate for decades, finding fulfillment in assisting students’ development – both in debate and wholistically as learners. This is Rio’s first year as Team Manager but nonetheless she has proven to be an asset to the team. She. Outside of debate Rio has dedicated her life to embracing the joys of swimming at sunrise, reading, and travelling.
Debate was the most critical tool for my personal, academic and professional development. It helped me to learn to think critically and analytically by helping me to see both sides of an argument. I credit debate with helping me to be successful in obtaining scholarships, doing well on interviews, negotiating various agreements, planning and developing strategy.
Collin Anderson
WSDC 1995 (Wales)
WSDC ALUMNI
DEBATERS
Alison Dyer (’91)
Colm Singleton (’91)
Michael Pearson (’91)
Carolyn Thomas (’91)
Janita Burke (’92)
N Koshea Scott Millett (’92)
Charles Sousa (’92)
Michelle Correia (’92 & ’93)
Tariq Smith (’93)
Rachael Barritt (’93)
Chen Foley (’93 & ’94)
Gina Bassett (’94)
Stacey Barnum (’94)
Edmund Robinson (’94)
Jennifer Burland (’94 & ’95)
Collin Anderson (’95)
Selena Mello (’95)
Nicholas Pacheco (’95)
Eugene Johnston (’97)
Rashan Smith (’97)
Trevor Leitch (’97 & ’98)
Jennifer Rhind (’97 & ’98)
Vincent Richardson (’98)
Ian Ostroff-Striffler (’98)
Jordan Zancanella (’97, ’98 & ’99)
Ryan Marshall (’99)
Kalilah Robinson (’99)
Eli Lipschultz (’99 & ’00)
Ruth O’Kelly-Lynch (’99 & ’00)
Christie Hunter (’00, ’01 & ’02)
Christine Mayor (’00 & ’01)
Aziza Ahad (’01 & ’02)
Zahra Muhammad (’01 & ’02)
Sarita Ebbin (’02 & ’03)
Krystl Assan (’03)
Richard Hillen (’03 & ’04)
Shaunee James (’03 & ’04)
Akilah Beckles (’04 & ’05)
Madeleine Gardner (’04)
Mich’ele Smith (’05)
Patrick Suter (’05)
Janita DeBraga (’05)
Claire Kelly (’05 & ’06)
Adrienne Smatt (’06)
Adam Kiki-Charles (06 & ’07)
Blake Sonnenfeld (’06 & ’07)
Michelle Kelly (’06, ’07, ’08 & ’09)
Sasha Slayton (’07)
Aliyyah Ahad (’07)
Catherine Campbell (’08)
Nikki-Lynn Marshall (’08 & ’09)
Nicholas Rinehimer (’08 & ’09)
Ellisse Johnston (’09)
Jacari Brimmer-Landy (’08, ’09 & ’10)
Arielle Desilva (’10)
Coy Kijaun Millett (’10)
Eoin McMahon (’10)
Jordon Osbourne (’10)
Glenn Simmons (’11)
Marcus Bean (’11 & ’12)
Michael Cabot (’11 & ’12)
Shannon Denham (’12)
Daniel Pell (’12)
Nicholas Pell (’13)
William Campbell (’13)
Jashonae Smith-Tannock (’13)
Lucien Anderson (’15)
Kimika Jackson (’15)
Namrata Bisht (’15 & ’16)
Bathsheba Jones (’16)
Megan Sutcliffe (’15, ’16 & ’17)
Yasser Saia (’17)
Asha Symonds (’16, ’17 & ’18)
Tyrese Coakley (’17 & ’18)
Sierra Brangman (’17 & ’18)
Halle Teart (’18)
Hailey O’Donnell (’20)
Genevieve Lau (’20)
Ywione Darrell (’20, ’21)
McKenzie-Kohl Tuckett (’20, ’21)
Christina de Kock (’21)
Gabrielle Quinn-Sirera (’21)
Oliver ‘Olly’ Cherry (’21, ’22, ’23)
Ava Gibson (’22, ’23)
Matthew Banner (’23)
Marli Spriggs (’23)
Annie Pursell (’22, ’23, ’24)
Elias Baia (’24)
Chris Madeiros (’24)
Zarah Siddiqi (’24)
COACHES
Ziad Dajani (’92)
Karen Purdie (’93 & ’94)
Gladstone Thompson (’95 – ’00, ’02, ’09, ’11, ’13, ’15)
Linda Parker (’01)
Corey Butterfield (’03 – ’05)
Trevor Leitch (’06 & ’07)
Christianna (Hiles) Dakin (’08, ’10 & ’12)
Akilah Beckles (’16 – ’17)
Glenn Simmons (’18)
Kijaun Millett (’20 – ’24)
JUDGES
Elizabeth Virgo (’93, ’95 & ’97 – ’99)
Mary Murray (’99 & ’02)
Chris Harris (’99)
Trevor Leitch (’03 & ’04)
Nicholas Pacheco (’06)
Christina Mayor (’06)
Christie Hunter (’06)
Jennifer Haworth (’07)
Calvin Thomas (’08)
Susan Panchaud (’09)
Richard Hillen (’10 & ’13)
Aziza Ahad (’10)
Marisa Sharpe (’11 & ’12)
Akilah Beckles (’14)
Aliyyah Ahad (’14)
Arleen Swan (’15)
Christianna Dakin (’16)
Wanda Gibson (’17)
Gladstone Thompson (’18)
Amy Dingley-Jones (’20)
Meishka Zuill (’20)
Adrienne Smatt (’21)
Susan Behrens (’22)
Brice Pursell (’23-’24)