Clarendon Parish Council to Engage Young People in November

The Clarendon Parish Council will be staging a number of activities during Youth and Community Month in November aimed at guiding young people towards more responsible behaviours.

In an interview with JIS News, Mayor of May Pen, Councillor Scean Barnswell, said that the activities, which will include school visits, will also target parents.

He said there is need to steer children away from anti-social behaviour and to “re-educate and re-socialize” them on “how we conduct ourselves in society”.

“We will be using these fora not only to talk about how the tax dollar is being spent, but to get into the social behaviour of our students and parents. We are using this medium to re-engage our students and parents,” the Mayor informed.

Custos of Clarendon, Hon. William Shagoury, in supporting the move of the Parish Council, called on parents to attend the various events with their children. He also urged parents to carry out their responsibility of steering children away from “bad” behaviour.

“The country cannot continue with anti-social and bad behaviour. We need to understand that we must be civil, kind, and understanding towards each other. We need to help and the parents have a responsibility to tell their children about the bad behaviour and the consequences that it cost the country,” he stated.

The Mayor, along with officers of the Council, will be visiting schools in the parish from November 13 to 27.

The Parish Council will be carrying out repairs at the Anderson’s Place of Safety on November 16, while on November 21, a healthy lifestyle expo will be held at the Denbigh Showground in May Pen.

The highlight of the month will be the annual Youth Council meeting on November 19. “Students from various schools across the parish, they will be carrying out the roles and functions of the Council, similar to what we do at full Council meetings. It is to give them a feeling as to what it is like to be a political representative, and the role and functions of the administrative staff,” Mr. Barnswell said.

Several other community activities will be taking place in the parish in observance of Youth and Community Month in conjunction with the Social Development Commission (SDC).