Rev. Thwaites to Co-Chair Values and Attitudes Committee

Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, says Opposition Spokesman on Education, Reverend Ronald Thwaites, will be co-chairing the National Values and Attitudes Committee.

He told JIS News that the move is “significant”, because it is a national effort and it has to “cross boundaries, both political and social”.

The Minister, who will also co-chair the committee, was taking part in a Security and Ethics Conference, organised by his Ministry and the Ministry of National Security, at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, in New Kingston, on June 14.

Senator Reid said he is making sure that when the campaign is up and running, it will be a lasting one, adding that one way to ensure its success is to have many sectors represented in the management and coordination of the programme.

“Rev. Thwaites and I have had a very cordial relationship, and we want to promote good values and attitudes. We have different political perspectives but we can work together, because it is our country and we want to work for Jamaica,” the Minister said.

For his part, Rev. Thwaites, a former Minister of Education, said the campaign, which has been dormant for many years, is long overdue.

“I am anxious to be part of an effort to identify certain values which the society must embrace,” he said.

The aim of the conference was to raise the level of awareness about security and ethical issues among youth, deans of discipline, school leaders and law-enforcement personnel.

The event was held under the theme ‘Enhancing Ethical Values to Engender a Culture of Safety and Security’.