THE 2006 junior mayor for the Westmoreland Parish Council is Davey Haughton, a 19-year-old upper sixth form student at the Frome Technical High School in the parish.

Haughton, who is pursuing Sociology, History, Biology and Caribbean Studies in the CAPE examinations, won the prestigious title recently in a keenly contested competition, held in Savanna-la-Mar by the parish council.

The junior mayor competition was part of activities held in Westmoreland in celebration of Local Government Month. The event saw students – representing eight of the 14 divisions in the parish – vying for the top title, with the Negril Division writing its name in the history books for the fourth consecutive year for making the best presentation.

All the junior councillors made well researched presentations on a wide range of issues, including road conditions, traffic congestion, unemployment, improper collection and disposal of garbage, poor drainage maintenance, as well as crime and violence.

Congratulating the participants in the competition, Savanna-la-Mar mayor Delford Morgan said he was impressed with the quality of the presentations made by the students.

“I am heartened and was very impressed with the quality of the delivery of these students and the awareness they displayed in regard to the issues that are germane to their day-to-day existence,” he said.

“These are issues which they seem to be knowledgeable about, and this can only enhance the quality of the debate that we have in our country as regard public service in this area,” he added.

At the same time, he noted that the students performance should serve to inspire adults to participate in debate on issues affecting their communities.

“I do believe that if the students at their age can display the acumen they did last week, if they can recognise the difficulties inherent in the issues raised, then I believe that the adults would have very little excuse as to why they too, do not seek to join this important debate,” the mayor said.

– JIS