By Volney Barrett – Freelance Writer
The 2017 annual St. James Junior Mayor Competition was staged on Thursday, October 26, at the Montego Bay Cultural Centre, Sam Sharpe Square, by the St. James Municipal Corporation. Winning the event to be crowned Junior Mayor 2017-2018 was Suzanna Hyde of Mt. Alvernia High School.
It was an atmosphere of celebration as 14 teenage students drawn from six St. James-based high schools and the Montego Bay Community College, presented on the topic: Do you believe the Zones of Special Operations (ZOSO) is effective?
The view of most presenters was that ZOSO will not fully address crime in Jamaica, but will reduce it. ZOSO is the government’s response to rising incidences of murders.
In the meantime, Talia Reid, 16, of Cambridge High School, grabbed second place to be named Junior Deputy Mayor 2017-2018 and 18-year-old Devaughn James of Herbert Morrison Technical High School was named CEO of the Junior Council 2017-2018.
The competition was established following the granting of city status to Montego Bay in 1980. The aim of the competition is to build leadership abilities in students and to give them a better understanding of governance. The group, under Hyde’s leadership, will execute various projects.
The other competitors were: Alliah Bryant,15, of Harrison Memorial High; Janelle Chambers, 18, of Montego Bay High; Jordan Collins, 14, Montego Bay High; Rachel Ellis, 16, Montego Bay Community College; Asha Garwick, 15, Cornwall College; Toni-Shea Grey, 17, Montego Bay Community College; Annissa O’Connor, 16, Maldon High School; Shanalee Scarlett, 18, Green Pond High School; Sasha-Gaye Silk, 19, Mt. Alvernia High; Darien Streets, 13, Cornwall College and Tejano Taylor, 16, Herbert Morrison Technical High School.