St. Thomas Youth Urged to Make Use of Educational Opportunities

Young people in St. Thomas have been encouraged to make good use of the educational opportunities that exist within the parish.
Parish Manager for the Social Development Commission (SDC), Luther Cummings, made the call while addressing students and teachers at a youth consultation held on Friday (Nov. 21) at the Anglican Church Hall in Morant Bay.
He said the parish was fortunate to have a number of secondary institutions, such as Morant Bay High, which was the first one constructed, in addition to those in areas such as Yallahs, Trinity Ville, and Hampton Court.
He further urged the students to focus on their studies and to improve on their values and attitudes. “Think well about yourself and maintain those attributes that will help you to develop and become respectful adults,” he added.
The youth consultation was organized by the Morant Bay Development Area of the SDC as part of activities to celebrate community and youth month in November.
Earlier in the day, youngsters, drawn from youth clubs and several high and primary schools in the parish, participated in a march through the town of Morant Bay, from the National Works Agency’s office to the Anglican Church Hall. They carried placards with slogans such as, ‘We want opportunities’, ‘Stop kidnapping us,’ ‘No to Drugs,’ ‘Stop the senseless killing,’ ‘We are the future,’ and ‘Show us respect.’
Later, the students were separated into five groups to discuss a number of issues such as: factors preventing youth participation in community development; the Child Care and Protection Act 2003; issues affecting young males; the safety and security of the youth; and sexual abuse and relations.
Morant Bay Development Area Officer at the SDC, Nikema Leslie, said that the information garnered will be used to create “useful mechanisms throughout the development area that will benefit the youth.”
“We want to know how you feel about your communities, how you feel about safety and security and to test your overall knowledge so we can help to improve on these things,” she stated.