THIS week has indeed been an eventful one for businesses in and around the William Peter Boulevard, and in the vicinity of the courthouse at the corner of High Street and Coral Street, and for the students of the Ava Maria Girls and RC Boys Infant and Primary schools.
First, came the bomb scares at the Ave Maria school and the courthouse, a very common occurrence in the city over the years, but one the authorities need not ignore for obvious reasons. Students could not assemble at the assembly point, which is the Sir Derek Walcott Square, but had to walk all the way to the Marchand Grounds.
The First bomb scare was at the courthouse, causing consternation amongst small business people in the area who had to close up shop. Not long after came the one at the school resulting yet another evacuation of schools in the area and that of business places.
And if that was not enough the biggest incident of the day, Thursday, was the fire that raged through the Ajodha building that housed the popular Voyager business and several offices. While those incidents merit editorial attention, we beg readers to bear with us this time around while we shift attention to an event that we think is also worthy of note, as it has a bearing on the future of our country. Talking here of an event that took place this week as well that many may not dwell too much on but which we take rather seriously.
It is the election of a new executive for the Saint Lucia National Students’ Council which took place on Monday. So what’s so worthy of this, one may ask?
We go back to 2015 when Student Councils at the primary school level were created, a move we at THE VOICE highly commended and called for it to be replicated in all schools. The point made at the time was that such a body would give young people a voice, an avenue where their ideas and views could be brought to the national level, which if done, could go a long way in getting some of them away from a life of crime that many – and very young ones too, are involved in.
We reiterate the point made four years ago in this very column that the best place to effect social change is in schools and that every effort is to be made in encouraging our students, from as early as the primary school level, to be less reticent in expressing themselves.
As our young people move into adulthood we want them to be able to represent themselves in their own interest on important matters which impact on their lives, rather than keep all those feelings inside choking them up and pushing them into a life of crime. Hence we believe that Student Councils in schools is an important step in the fight against a growing crime monster that today threatens to destroy our way of life.
As was said four years ago, we hope that students come to the realization that they have a voice and a contribution to make to their schools and country and rise up to the task. We congratulate the National Students Council and wish the new executive all the best as they too, through their programmes, steer young people, especially school leavers, away from a life of crime.