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Jamaicans Urged to Protect Youth from Harm

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JIS: Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green, has called on Jamaicans to be more sensitive to the needs of young persons and to protect them from harm.

 

Citing the recent killing of a student on a bus in Kingston, the State Minister said that “too many of us turn a blind eye to our young people when we see them in difficult situations.”

 

“This young man did nothing wrong. What did the bus load of people do to protect that young man in distress? Too many of us say those are not our children, so we are just minding our own business,” added.

 

Mr. Green was speaking at a church service to launch National Youth Month (November), which was held at the Steer Town New Testament Church of God, in St. Ann, on October 30.

 

The Minister of State said adults must be more mindful of the youth in society and the critical role they can play in seeking to guide, encourage and support them in developing all the requisite skills and abilities to enable them to become responsible and focused citizens in the future.

 

“We need to do more collectively to protect our young people. As such, I hope that such an unfortunate death will be a rallying call for us all to endeavour to do more for our young people,” Mr. Green emphasised.

 

For her part, Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Shahine Robinson, said the theme for the Month, ‘Energizing Youth’, is an important call for the entire nation to do what is necessary to empower and energize young people to become responsible and noble citizens.

 

“We must lay the right foundation, so they can actualise their true potential. As government, we are committed to creating the right environment for our young people to excel and so build the Jamaica we all want to see,” Mrs. Robinson said.

 

CAPTION: Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green (right), interacts with children from St. Christopher School for the Deaf, during the church service to launch National Youth Month (November), at the Steer Town New Testament Church of God, in St. Ann., on Sunday, October 30. The Month will be observed under the theme: ‘Energizing Youth’