Leaders should set examples for youth
Published:Saturday | June 4, 2011 | 12:00 AM
NOVLETTE FORBES, vice-principal of administration and development at the Montego Bay Community College, has called on corporate and political leaders to set better examples for Jamaican youth to follow.
Forbes, speaking at a recent Gleaner Editors' Forum in Montego Bay, said Jamaicans in general need to demonstrate a sense of accountability and responsibility so this can permeate into the country's schools.
"Our leaders have failed the family, and by extension, the country. We try very hard, but some of our students that we have trained engage in criminal activities, and it has become such a great issue that students are even stealing laptops," Forbes said.
In agreeing with Forbes, Dean Salmon of Di Foto Shoppe indicated that many Jamaican youth were in need of direction and guidance. He cited a recent incident in which he needed to hire a worker, but was unsuccessful despite the level of remuneration he was offering.
"I offered to pay $10,000 per week, which would be $30,000 per month. But all the young persons interviewed were unwilling to work for that amount. But yet they sit on the corner or go around asking people to help them with money or food. They don't want to work," Salmon said.