The Junior Mayors and their chaperones pose with Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Culture, Youth, and Sports Senator Warren Newby after their courtesy call on the Govenor General Professor Sir Kenneth Hall at Kings House, and a luncheon that followed in the Banquet Hall at the neighbouring Jamaica House.

The new Junior Mayors were chosen recently and their first call to duty was a courtesy call on Govenor Genreal Professor Sir Kenneth Hall. The island's 12 Junior Mayors were hosted at King's House last Tuesday and were treated to a luncheon at the Banquet Hall of Jamaica House.

TEENage had the opportunity of speaking with the Junior Mayors before the luncheon and when asked about the role they play, they replied that they do charitable work within their respective parishes, like painting children's homes, teaching at basic schools, conducting gift drives and promoting positive environmental values. They also attend most parish ceremonies and functions, where they are given a chance to voice the concerns of the youths within their parishes.

In observance of Local Government month, and under the theme 'Transforming Our Communities Through Good Local Governance', the Banquet Hall was transformed into a fashionable ministerial chamber, where our Junior Mayors took their seats next to their respective senior Parish Mayors.

John Clarke, the 2006 St Elizabeth Junior Mayor and present student of UWI Law School, was the motivational speaker for the luncheon and among his many words of advice to the Junior Mayors, he encouraged them to learn the art of time management from an early age so that when they become adults they will be better able to find time for their family lives as well as their business lives.

Each Junior Mayor made a brief presentation, in which they discussed the problems within their respective parishes and also highlighted possible solutions. Entertainment was provided by the talented violinist Nadje Leslie, the 2006 Juniour World Instrumentalist Winner, and also by the multi-talented Rochelle Watson, a student of St Andrew High School. Each Junior Mayor was presented with a symbolic cheque of $50,000, to conduct a project within their respective communities. In addition to their individual cheques, another $240,000 was presented to the Junior Mayors by the local government authorities to further aid them in whatever needs may arise.

TEENage had a talk with Tanya Morgan, Junior Mayor of St Thomas and a student of Seaforth High School. When asked why she became a Junior Mayor, she informed us: "Being a Junior Mayor gives me the opportunity to bring about a positive change in my community. Personally, I see politics as important, as it is through politics that many persons' lives are affected, be it negatively or positively." When asked what she will do with her $50,000, she said that she would be using it to cover the holes in her schoolyard as well as to develop a sporting facility for the youths in her community, in order to get them off the streets.

TEENage also spoke with the youngest of all the Junior Mayors, Sadrina Johnson, from Hanover and a student of Lucea Primary. Sadrina is only 11 years old and already she has devoted her time to the positive growth of our youths.
When asked how she manages her time with being so involved in her parish and going to school, she was proud to make us know that, "The first thing I do when I get home after school is to watch a half-an-hour of TV. I follow a timetable that allows me to have fun, study and relax." Sadrina said that she is overwhelmed to be a Junior Mayor and that she actually enjoys playing the role. When asked about the project that she will undertake with her monetary aid, she said that she was still unsure, but she would like to make more pedestrian crossings, especially in areas where there are many schools.

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