15 November 2018
The Chief Minister, Senator John Le Fondré, will tomorrow [Friday 16 November] preside over a student debate about overseas aid.
The fifth Annual Rotary Student Peace Debate will be held in the States’ Chamber, with the Minister for International Development, Deputy Carolyn Labey, delivering a keynote speech before students from seven secondary schools present their views on a range of topics about overseas aid and charity.
Students will debate whether less money should be spent on overseas aid, whether the current level of contributions should be maintained or whether Jersey should increase donations.
Senator Le Le Fondré said that he was looking forward to welcoming students into the States’ Chamber.
“Since 1968 Jersey has been providing lifesaving humanitarian and development assistance to the world’s poorest people,” he said. “The role that Jersey has played, and is playing, in providing overseas aid serves not only to benefit the communities being helped, but also enhances Jersey’s well-deserved international reputation as a caring society.”
Deputy Carolyn Labey said that her keynote speech to students would highlight why Jersey’s aid programme is beneficial to the island, as well as the world’s poorest people.
“I am proud of the fact that Jersey saves and transforms hundreds of thousands of lives every year, and I want the students to be proud of it too,” she said. “Charity may indeed ‘begin at home’, in that rather mean-spirited phrase, but it certainly doesn’t have to end there.”
Students from Grainville School, Hautlieu School, Les Quennevais School, Beaulieu Convent School, De La Salle College, Jersey College for Girls and Victoria College will be taking part in the debate.
gov.je