CSJP Encourages Irwin High Students To Be Positive Role Models

Students from Irwin High School, in St. James, benefitted from motivational talks by the Ministry of National Security’s Citizen Security and Justice Programme (CSJP) and Unite for Change, recently.

A team from the Ministry of National Security, led by Community Relations Officer for CSJP, Carlton Powell, and former ‘man in the street’, Norado Bell, spoke to the students about being positive role models, not only at school, but also in their communities.

“You are among the most important people in Jamaica at this moment as you have a place in one of Jamaica’s high schools where you have the opportunity to make something worthwhile with your life….cherish the opportunity and ensure that you strive to become someone who contributes positively to Jamaica’s development,” Mr. Powell told the students.

He said the idea behind the motivational talks, which would be taken islandwide, is to encourage the students in a number of high schools to become responsible individuals, who can assist in Jamaica’s development as the nation pushes towards attaining its goals under Vision 2030.

“Students, we at CSJP and Unite for Change are concerned about the manner in which some of you as youngsters are behaving and as such, we hope that our talk with you can play even the smallest role in ensuring that you remain on the right track…that you attain a good education and ultimately you all become responsible adults when you complete your high school and tertiary education” Mr. Powell said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Bell, who has experienced life at several levels of the society, told the students “that life for someone on the other side of the law is very uncomfortable, as you constantly have to be looking behind to see who is coming for you or thinking where or who your next victim will be”

“The CSJP has given me a second chance at life and I have taken it with both hands. Gone are the days when I would be spending $30,000 per day without even thinking where the next amount is coming from. I wasted my days in high school and I have lived to regret that move. You students are now at the stage where you are very vulnerable and can be influenced…I am encouraging you to stay on track as Jamaica needs productive, positive and well thinking persons to aid in her development,” he urged.

Mr. Bell admitted to have been more than a “person of interest” to the law, adding that he has turned his life over, and working with the CSJP, he has been able to make positive use of his second chance.

Meanwhile, the students in attendance told JIS News that the intervention was timely, as some of them are preparing for external examinations and others will take on new roles.

“We have learnt a lot from the talks given by Mr. Powell and Mr. Bell and we will endeavour to stay on the ‘right side of the law’, while we strive for excellence in school, in pursuit of a better standard of education,” the said.