Antigua and Barbuda have successfully defended their title at the 54th Leeward Islands Debating Competition (LIDC), claiming back-to-back championships at the tournament held in Nevis on Sunday, March 15, 2026. According to Antigua.news, the victory marks another dominant showing from the twin-island nation on the regional debating stage.
Debaters Leanna Browne and Janica Adams delivered a commanding performance in the final, amassing 694 points to defeat host nation Nevis, who finished as runners-up with 639 points. Adams received additional recognition, earning the Best Speaker award for her outstanding contribution throughout the competition.
The final moot — "Caribbean governments should provide free tertiary education to citizens up to the undergraduate degree level" — generated spirited exchanges between the two finalists, with Antigua and Barbuda ultimately proving the more convincing side.
The road to the championship was far from straightforward. In the semi-finals on March 14, Antigua and Barbuda defeated Montserrat 691 points to 624, with Emya Geness named Best Speaker of that round. Nevis secured their place in the final by edging out Anguilla 613 to 559 in the second semi-final, where Kijari Huggins claimed Best Speaker honours.
The tournament had opened on March 12 with Montserrat defeating St. Kitts 610 to 510 in a debate on whether U.S. deportation policies catalyze crime in the Caribbean.
This latest triumph builds on Antigua and Barbuda's victory at the 53rd LIDC in 2025, when they defeated St. Maarten in the final, cementing their status as the competition's reigning power in consecutive years.
