Mark Titus, Freelance Writer

Western BUREAU:

Since his appointment as Governor-General on February 16, 2006, His Excellency Professor Kenneth Hall has twinned his interest in youth development with the promotion of excellence.

To this end, the Governor-General's Youth Award for Excellence was formed to create a platform for dialogue with Jamaica's youth and to listen to their recommendations.

Now in its second year, the Youth Award Consultative Breakfast complements the existing Governor-General Achievement Awards (GGAA) which began in 1992, and which honours personsthroughout the nation known to be from modest economic and social circumstances, who have improved their circumstances, while contributing to the development of their community.

"Last year, when we started, it was geared towards listening to young people and making recommendations," said Hugh Morris, national coordinator of the GGAA.

Recommendations on matters

"This year, we have expanded the programme. In addition to making recommendations on matters of national interest, we will assist them to develop a personal profile," Mr. Morris said.

"His Excellency, who himself is an educator, is hoping that we can make them aware of what is happening nationally so we can get them involved in certain aspects of decision making."

The first of four such exercises of which The Gleaner Company Limited, Jamaica National Building Society, Victoria Mutual Building Society, Scotia Jamaica Building Society and First Caribbean International Building Society are joint sponsors, was held in the county of Cornwall at Grand Lido Braco in Trelawny on Thursday, May 17.

The event, which was hosted by His Excellency Profesor Kenneth Hall and Mrs. Rheima Hall, saw over 75 students attending and weighing on the the discussion about the 2007/2008 National Budget.

Students were asked to critique the respective allocations and make recommendations accordingly.

While the call for increased spending on education was unanimous, the students also commended the recent announcements by Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller of free health care up to the age of 18 years, and the performance of the Office of the Contractor-General. There was a call to revamp the agricultural sector to include greater use of technology, as well as for a bigger allocation of funds for social justice, environment conservation, along with national security.

Powell

Simone Powell - Head girl, Green Island High School

"Iwould

put most of my focus on education, because there are some schools ... that don't really have the facility for some subjects, for example science subjects like biology, which requires some form of practical experiment and so on.

"Schools need equipment for their PE (physical education) department. Most times schools have to be seeking funds in order for their PE programmes to continue."

Shawn Forbes

Head boy,

Ruseas High School

"While I join in the call for more to be spent on education, I also believe, with the amount of killings taking place today, more needs to be spent on our defence; without defence we won't be able to go to school, and even when we are in school, we will not be able to focus on learning."

Wilson

Crystal Wilson

Head girl, - Knockalva

Technical

High School

" ... I would spend more on agriculture and technology. If this is done, we can substitute our local produce for foreign imported produce."

Hill

Maleeka Hill

Head girl, Black River High School

"The Budget Debate was quite interesting. I see where the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition have their hands full. I say that because the Government is talking about a lot of money and yet they don't have a clear overview of where they are going to get the money from, while the Opposition Leader is making a fuss about everything."

"More needs to be done for education. Education is vital for the future of our country. Currently, schools are overpopulated and there is a constant cry for more infrastructure."

"Health is a must. We have people going to the hospitals and can't afford certain things. If you are from St. Elizabeth, you will have to go to Kingston if you need any form of specialised treatment. It is really hard and if you don't have a healthy country, you can't have a productive country."

"I would cut the allocation to the Office of the Cabinet."

Wayne Brown

Vice-president,

Student Council

Montego Bay

Community College

"Looking at the main paper, my concerns are the 20/20 plan seeing that every government aims to better the lives of its citizens and to also aid in the development of that country, and we talk about Jamaica moving from a developing country to developed."

"My concern is the overallocation of funds to the governor-general and staff, the office of the Cabinet, foreign affairs and trade."

"I also think more funds should be allocated to the Ministry of Justice to have ready access to social justice so persons can trust the justice system, where they can feel that it is equitable."

Nelson

Trishawna Nelson

Head of the research team of Westwood High School

Environment Club

"The Prime Minister must be commended for the decision to give free health care up to the age of 18 years, but I am for environment protection and conservation."

"As Minister of Finance, I would spend more money on environment protection and conservation because when the environment is protected this would improve the life of our society, and we would not be spending so much on the health sector, since most problems develop as a result of pollution and the deterioration of the environment."

The GGAA National Coordinator told The Gleaner that the objective of the consultative exercise had been met.

"Those in attendance are seen by their peers, teachers and guidance counsellors as leaders in their own right," he said. "This is the objective of the national committee.

"We were able to get our young leaders to come and look at national issues objectively and have dialogue. We have now documented the ideas and recommendations, and as soon as we have completed the exercise throughout the island, we will be holding some sort of forum to allow the young people to expand on these issues, which will lead to the creation of a national paper that we hope we can take much further.

"It is clear that the absence of the formal teaching of civics in the schools mitigates against our youngsters being aware of things that happen nationally. Hopefully, a recommendation for its return will be made," said Mr. Morris.