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Stabroek News

Students debate budget at G-G Youth Awards
published: Thursday | June 21, 2007


Students from high schools and colleges in the county of Middlesex have a healthy discussion with Governor-General Professor Kenneth Hall (fourth left) and his wife Mrs. Rheima Hall (fifth left), after the Governor-General's Youth Award of Excellence consultation forum at Breezes Runaway Bay in St. Ann, yesterday. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

Marlon Vickerman, Features Writer

The tables were packed with students on all sides wearing white and khaki shirts, with neckties bearing the crests and names of their respective schools. A few wore tunics as well.

The scene could easily be mistaken for the unfolding of an epic national schools' debate battle royale where anxious youngsters dissect all sides of an issue. On this occasion, however, the students gathered for the Governor-General's Youth Award of Excellence consultation breakfast held at Breezes Runaway Bay Hotel, and the concern up for discussion was the 2007/2008 National Budget.

The general consensus among students was that there should have been a larger budget for both the Education and the National Security ministries.

Meat of the matter

The knives and forks clattering against plates came to a halt at 9:30 a.m. Breakfast was over and Governor-General Professor Kenneth Hall and the young, intelligent minds in attendance were ready to delve into the meat of the matter.

For many of the more than 30 students present, the budget cap of $47.9 billion allocated to the Ministry of Education and Youth is just not enough, while others took issue with the Ministry of National Security's just under $30 billion budget.

Sasha-Gaye Wright, head girl at Clarendon College, said tha the Education Ministry's budget appears to be small, the focus should be on how the funds are utilised in developing the sector instead of zooming in solely on the total the sector received. "It's not always about the money, but how it is used," she told the audience which included the Custos of St. Ann, Radcliffe Walters, and the acting Custos of Manchester, Hurbert L. Brown.

She added: "Some of the funds allocated in the budget should go towards strengthening the guidance counselling units in schools, teaching sex education, anger managementand conflict resolution. If funds are channelled into these areas effectively, then the budget set for the Education Ministry will benefit that sector and will also serve in countering other concerns such as crime in society."

More efficient forensic units

Maurice Smith, student at Manchester High and a senior prefect, pointed to the Bob Woolmer saga as an indication of the need for more efficient forensic units within the Ministry of National Security. This, he says, will definitely require a larger budget. "We are obviously not up to par with international standards where forensic labs and testing are concerned, and this is a very serious issue," he noted at The Gleaner-sponsored event chaired by Hugh Morris, national coordinator of the Governor-General's Achievement Award Scheme.

In closing, the Governor-General reiterated his point that the students should regard the function as a stepping stone on their path to becoming the bright future of the country and urged them to continue discussions into the matter at their respective schools.

The consultative breakfast series is an initiative launched by the Governor-General as part of the Youth Award of Excellence, to facilitate feedback from the nation's youth on topical issues and concerns at the national level.

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