CARIBBEAN CONFERENCE ON DIALOGUE AND DEBATE 2023

Thursday, October 12 / University of Technology Jamaica, Papine Campus

Keynote Speaker:

JEAN MICHEL HABINEZA, Founder and Executive Director

iDebate Rwanda

The Caribbean Conference on Dialogue and Debate
aims to explore broad themes concerning the role of dialogue and debate in defining the dominant and contested philosophical, ethical, legal, social, and cultural questions of our times. The conference provides an opportunity to explore how dialogue and debate have fostered social exchange and challenged or strengthened the fabric of society.

R. Anthony Lewis
is an associate professor of language, culture and society in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences in the Faculty of Education and Liberal Studies at UTech, Jamaica. He teaches oral communication, voice and speech, media writing, and media, culture and society. Lewis earned his Ph.D. in linguistics with a specialisation in translation from the University of Montreal, Canada. He also holds an M.A. in translation, and a B.A. in mass communication with language and literature from the University of the West Indies, Mona. His research articulates around language, translation, culture and society , with a focus on how these are shaped by creolisation and nationalisms. He also writes on minority sexuality in the Caribbean. For the past 11 years he has served as one of the advisors to the UTech, Jamaica Debating and Public Speaking
Society (UDPSS).

Jevon Henry
lectures in the Department of Economics at The University of the West Indies, Mona. He specializes in behavioural economics and does research in areas such as finance and sustainable development. He also has extensive experience working with international non-profit organizations, particularly those focused on youth and education such as Debate Mate, Explo at Yale University, and the Jamaican Association for Debating and Empowerment . With regards to debate and dialogue, he has delivered workshops/presentations and led on competitive activities at over 10 universities globally. Jevon is a breaking (top ranking) adjudicator at the US National Debating Championships, the Pan American Universities Debating Championships, and the World Universities Debating Championships.

Jean Michelle Habineza
is a Rwandan social entrepreneur dedicated to empowering youth and fostering peace building . In 2012, Jean Michel established iDebate Rwanda, an influential debate program that equips students with the art of public discourse. Under his leadership, iDebate Rwanda has expanded to partner with 115 schools, benefiting over 5000 students. Notably, Rwandan students achieved significant milestones by winning the 2017 African Debate Championship and the esteemed Rollins Cup, alongside prestigious institutions such as Oxford and Cambridge Universities.

Contact JADE