The Tribune

ARTHUR’S Town High School students cheered and applauded for the newly-elected members of their Cat Island school’s Local Government Junior Council.

Officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Local Government were in Cat Island to oversee and conduct elections, assisting local co-ordinators at the Arthur’s Town and Old Bight High Schools.

Students who attended the rallies and took part in the elections process spoke highly of the programme and what it meant to them.

Idanique Dean, grade nine, said she thought the campaigning and voting was “a great process” and taught them a lot.

“The campaigns were great and the speeches stood out from each other, so it made it better,” Idanique said. “It made it easier to elect the candidate of your choice.

“It prepares us for when we get out of school and have to vote in an election.”

Donae Burrows, grade eight, agreed and said that it was her first time experiencing “anything like that.”

“It helps me to get more information for what I have to do when I get older and want to vote,” Donae said. “I had to make some tough decisions; but it was good.”

“It was really fun because the speeches made it very tempting for who to vote for.”

Diminick King, grade nine, said that his friends all enjoyed the experience and it made him feel proud that his vote made a difference.

“I trusted them enough to give them my vote,” he said.

The newly elected junior council members also lauded the process that resulted in their new positions.

J’Von Russell, grade 10, said that he felt great running in the elections and was proud to have “a number of voters” supporting him.

He ran on a platform of wanting to encourage scholarships for Arthur’s Town High School students for tertiary education.

“It really felt like a real election,” he said. “I am really grateful for that experience.”

Leotha Newbold, a grade 11 prefect, said it was “good opportunity as a child growing up in Cat Island”.

“It gives us experience as to what a real general election would be like, when it is our turn to vote,” Leotha said.

“It is an awesome feeling to be elected.”

Leotha’s election was made even more special because her twin sister Lethera was also elected – a first in local government junior council history.

Lethera said that running in the election went well, but it was made more interesting running against her twin.

“It was a big competition between us two; but it was good,” she said with a laugh. “The experience helped us to understand more about how elections are held.”

Leotha concurred: “ It’s good to have my sister on the same team as me.”

Leotha added that it was great for them that Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Local Government V Alfred Gray came to Cat Island to swear them in that day.

“It was the first time I ever met him, so it made me feel proud that he came,” Leotha said.

J’Von, summed up the position of all candidates when asked how it felt to be elected by his peers.

“I cannot describe that feeling,” he said. “It’s an unbelievable feeling. I cannot believe it to this day; but it’s very great and now I feel that I can make a change.”