Robert Lalah, Staff Reporter
( L - R ) MCLEAN and LIVINGSTON
DON'T DARE try and stop them now! It was an outspoken, resolute group of youth who sat down for breakfast with the Governor-General yesterday, proposing a slew of solutions to Jamaica's problems.
The 15 youngsters dined and chatted with Professor Kenneth Hall as part of the second Consultative Youth Breakfast for Excellence, sponsored by Jamaica Producers Group at the Robin's Bay Hotel, St. Mary.
The youths, from St. Mary and Portland, were encouraged to express their opinions on social issues and to give ideas on how the nation's most pressing problems might be solved. From music to education, family life to unemployment, they held nothing back.
Ordette Marsh, the 17-year-old head girl of Iona High School in St. Mary, contended, "We need to establish more training sessions for parents. These could be operated out of the schools or somewhere else in the community.
"There is a real need for this because the family is so important and many people, especially those who are having children at a young age, need as much guidance as they can get," the shy teenager said at the function moderated by Jamaica Producers managing director, Dr. Marshall Hall.
Owen Duckie, of Oracabessa High School, said parents should ensure that they give adequate attention to their children.
"When they don't get the attention, they turn to other things like drugs and guns," he said.
Prof. Hall said he was extremely pleased with the students' frankness.
"I was struck by the focus you paid to social issues and that you presented possible solutions to the problems you identified. This is quite commendable," he told the group.
Yesterday's function was part of the Governor-General's plan to shine the spotlight on young people across the island who are excelling in different areas. He mentioned this plan in his inaugural address to the nation on February 15.
"In every community there are young people who believe in and are pursuing excellence. What is often missing, however, is the reward and recognition of this effort. We see this as the opportunity to give that recognition," he said.
FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
As part of his effort to reward the achievements of the country's young people, Prof. Hall has established the Governor-General's Youth Award for Excellence. This is being linked to the existing Governor-General's Achievement Award, which is presented to high achievers from each parish who rise from humble beginnings.
The breakfast, one of four to be held across the island, was also aimed at getting the input of the youngsters on how the award could be developed.
Ohene Blake, executive director of the National Centre for Youth Development, also attended the function. He praised the Governor-General for taking the time out to hear what the youths had to say.
"It will inevitably encourage the young people and they need this. Their views are important and when they see that the Governor-General is living up to his promise to focus on youths, it will help them to trust the state," he said.
Counselling could curb teen pregnancy
Charlee McLean, 17, is a student of Titchfield High School in Portland. She is in lower sixth form and enjoys dancing, singing and acting.
Charlee would love to see youngsters getting more counselling at school. She said this might help to cut the rate of teenage pregnancy which, in her opinion, has hit crisis proportions.
"Right now there are too many children making their own decisions without much information to draw on. They need more understanding of the choices they are making. If they don't get that, the problems in this country will only get worse," she said.
Charlee suggested that the Government set up counselling sessions at schools, which parents could also attend.
"Many of the parents need help themselves, and this would give them the perfect opportunity to learn together with their children," she added.
Of the meeting with the Governor-General, Charlee was grateful. "It was great. I really appreciate that he is taking the time out to hear our opinions. I think they should have more of these meetings."
Interactive classes stimulate learning
André Livingston is 16 years old. He is a fourth form student of Islington High School in St. Mary who loves singing and has a passion for reading novels.
André loves to learn and he is troubled that more young people do not share his zest for knowledge. He believes that there is much that the Government can do to change this.
"They could look at the way the teachers carry out their lessons. They could see if the sessions can be made more interactive and so pull in more students.
"Also, if they equip the schools with more things that will help children learn, then they will see better results. Like if they put more books in the libraries and add some variety to the books that are there, it would also help," André said.
