A record 50 scouts, from four schools across the parish, were recently invested in the Westmoreland Scout Association, while there are about 200 more youngsters waiting to join.

“The plan is to develop scouting in the parish so that every secondary school has a troop and every primary school has a pack,” said district commissioner for the parish, David Dennisur. “We are extending in the communities to groups such as churches so that every youth club can have a troop or a pack.”

This expansion, he said, would mean that the number of scouts enrolled would increase from 900 to 2,500 by the end of the administrative year.

But the plan will not come easily as it is estimated that it will take almost $1 million to accomplish.

“The development plan for one year for Westmoreland will cost the movement over $700,000,” said Dennisur. “This includes three training camps for leaders, one camp for scouts and one camp for cubs in addition to hiking, meetings and visits to schools.”

The 50 new scouts are students at the Petersfield, Maud McLeod, Little London and Grange Hill schools.

During the ceremony, Westmoreland Custos Owen Sinclair told he new inductees that they are in a position to be role models in their communities.