Antigua and Barbuda have successfully defended their title, claiming back-to-back championships at the 54th Leeward Islands Debating Competition (LIDC), held in Nevis on Sunday, March 15, 2026.

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 was also honoured with 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” — sparked spirited debate between the two finalists, with Antigua and Barbuda ultimately proving the more convincing side.

Antigua and Barbuda’s path to glory was hard-fought. In the semi-finals on March 14, they defeated Montserrat 691 points to 624, with Emya Geness named Best Speaker of that round. Nevis earned their place in the final by edging out Anguilla 613 to 559 in the second semi-final, where Kijari Huggins took Best Speaker honours. The tournament 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 back-to-back triumph follows Antigua and Barbuda’s victory at the 53rd LIDC in 2025, when they defeated St. Maarten in the final. Despite the defending champions’ dominance in recent years.