Official launching of Girls Brigade month

          Councillor's address at launching of Girls Brigade month

     The following is an edited version of an address given last Saturday morning by Councillor [Wilmot] Max Ramsay of the St. James Parish Council at the official launching of Girls Brigade month, at the St. Paul's United Church Hall.  Cllr. Ramsay was the main speaker.

     THE GIRLS' BRIGADE and other community and Christian related bodies are important to any community, as they foster youth participation and involvement which is most needed in today's society.

     They also provide for a better understanding among young people: impart Christian teachings and principles, while being a cultural expose.  I therefore call upon the Girls' Brigade and other youth related organizations to work assidiously in bringing about a lasting and meaningful 'youth consciousness' within our society.

     The future is in our hands, and as such, we as youths ought to create and develop strategies to better enable us to be functional as we approach the start of the 21st century.  We ought to be more aggressive, purposeful, yet properly organized with adequate discipline in our contributions to the nation-building process.

     There is need for greater youth participation within this country and as such, I hereby summon our youth population to evaluate themselves and  thereafter, develop enough faith within themselves to strive for the things in life they need most in order to bring about a greater sense of patriotism in our country, Jamaica.

     With enough self-confidence and faith within yourselves, you will accomplish your goals.  On achieving your goals, you should use them wisely to demonstrate a greater sense of responsibility to our people and country -- an attainment of excellence.

     "Young man I call upon you because you are strong," The Good Book says, and this ought to be encouraged, practised and enacted.  Youth is strength.  You of the Girls' Brigade are young and you are indeed strong.

     Last year, 1985, we celebrated, International Youth Year but of a fact, I wonder; how many of our young people were really privileged to participate, develop and foster peace within our world?  And for the latter, peace should begin among ourselves, within our homes, schools, churches, communities and nation.

     Let us therefore hear our youths declare "last year was, this year is, next year and the years to come will be ours."  Therefore, we will endeavour to make 'participation, development and peace' our aim and ultimately, reality.

     For us, therefore, it will always be International Youth Year.

     Young people reflect their country's future and it is therefore imperative that our future leaders be taught the true values of a dedicated and patriotic citizenship.  The onus rests, therefore, on the shoulders of young people to carve and map out the path of our future, our aims and aspirations, and work vigorously in achieving them.

     I encourage you to take your rightful places within our society and always try to be 'a success story' for our country.

     Young people have a right and a responsibility to shape and determine the destiny of their homeland.

     I charge you of the Girls' Brigade to continue your self-awareness and community development programmes as it will be through these avenues that our national problems are identified and their solutions reached.  This also will help greatly in bringing about your theme for this month's celebration: "Reaching out in peace and love."

(Copyright @ The [Gleaner] Western Weekly, (Jamaica), Thursday, March 6, 1986)