PORT MARIA, St. Mary:
ELEVEN HIGH school students in St. Mary played the role of councillors at a Youth Council meeting on November 20 as part of 'Local Government Month' celebrations in the parish.
The 'representative' of the Belfield division, Norbert Wildman, a student at the University of Technology, was unanimously elected as mayor and led the council through the meeting.
Presentations were made by the Youth Councillors on the topic, 'Be Community Wise - Organise And Mobilise, Together We Will Rise'.
ROLE AS CITIZENS
Part of the youth mayor's presentation centred on the individual role of citizens in the development of the country and the mobilisation of the youth to help them reach their goals. Organisations must come together, share information, and make sensible decisions, he said.
The lack of street lights in some areas and the need for more in some divisions was brought out forcefully by the councillors, as was the need for a better water service.
Councillor for the Oracabessa division, Dahlia Dale of Oracabessa High, said it was unfortunate that the lack of water in parts of the division forced some persons to bathe in pans and buckets, and appealed for the issue to be corrected.
Sashenna Silvera of Tacky High said there were places in the Gayle division where water was trucked to only twice per week. Sashenna also spoke of the rampant sidewalk selling, noting that a market was available but not utilised by the vendors.
COUNCILLORS
She said Gayle needed a car park in the town and proper public sanitary conveniences. The other councillors were Simone Drisdale of Annotto Bay, Deadra Dyer of Port Maria, Yanisha Nash of Islington, Sangella Rhoden of Hampstead, Carlos Coombs of Retreat, Germaine Green of Richmond, Benton McTaggart of Carron Hall and Avril Smith of Castleton. They all addressed road conditions, poor garbage collection, and mosquito infestation resulting from clogged drains.
Mayor and chairman of the St. Mary Council, Robert Montaque, in welcoming the students, said they were meeting in a historic building, the Port Maria Civic Centre.
