Students Participate in KSAMC Junior Council Meeting

Students from over 30 technical, junior, and traditional high schools across the corporate area, participated in the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) junior council forum.

The activity, which forms part of the Corporation’s 2023 Local Government and Community Month activities, was held on November 24, at the Jamaica Conference Centre in Downtown Kingston under the theme, ‘Local Government: Creating a Legacy of Improved Social Services’.

Chief Executive Officer of the KSAMC, Robert Hill praised the students for their astute understanding of the country’s social issues.

“I commend the fact that the topics you chose are topics that you can exchange ideas on, learn from [and] also bring new ideas. The fact that you are technologically advanced in many ways, that you can use artificial intelligence software, that you can find solutions that we may never have thought of, is where we need to go,” Mr. Hill said.

For her part, grade 12 student at the Meadowbrook High School, and Councillor for the Red Hills Division, Kelli- Shea Ellis told JIS News that the session has given her a deeper understanding local government.

“It is very important to have these discussions [as] learning never stops. As young leaders and children…it is good to get practice from early, as we get a better understanding of how important the job is and to create a better society, we have to be that change,” she said.

The participants debated a range of topics including the need for mental health initiatives within Kingston and St. Andrew, for students.

In addition, resolutions calling on the KSAMC Junior Council to collaborate with the Youth Summer Employment Programme to improve financial awareness and provide more employment opportunities; and a need for the implementation of recycling initiatives across schools in the KSA, were considered.

Discussions were also had regarding the need to have statistical reports on the homeless population within the Municipality, which will drive initiatives that improve social services and programmes provided to this population.