During their protest, the National Pioneer Corps called upon the Government to invest more in youth development. They also lobbied for permanent jobs for their members instead of the three- to six-month periods.

Published Tuesday, October 14, 1975

3,000 march in support of Pioneer Corps

About 3,000 members of the National Pioneer Corps staged a demonstration through sections of the Corporate Area yesterday, reaffirming their support for the Government's Pioneer Corps Programme. The Corps operates as an agency of the Social Development Commission.

Groups from West Kingston, St Andrew, St Catherine and St Thomas participated in the demonstration which started at Half-Way Tree and proceeded to Cross Roads and Parade before ending at The Gleaner office.

The demonstrators, bearing placards, refuted charges by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Edward Seaga, that the programme was not using the funds allocated to it effectively.

The demonstrators said that any mismanagement of the programme was far outweighed by its fundamental achievements in involving urban youths in community projects.

A spokesman for the demonstrators said they wished Government to allot more funds to the Corps to enable more groups to be established. They were also seeking to have the Corps provide work on a permanent basis, as at present its members were given work for a period of three to six months.

The youths also desired to participate in decision-making at the community level. It was felt that more youth centres could be built through the Corps at a cheaper cost, and less police stations.

The Corps had assisted in lowering the crime rate and if more groups were established crime could be eradicated, the spokesman said.

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