The voices of student leaders from St James resonated through the streets of Montego Bay, last Tuesday, November 17, as the National Centre for Youth Development (NCYD) and the National Secondary Students Council (NSSC) hosted a youth rally in Sam Sharpe Square, in commemoration of International Students’ Day.

Accompanied by the Flankers Marching Band, the students marched through the streets of Montego Bay, taking the opportunity to condemn negativity in music and abuse of the women’s and children’s rights.

They gathered in Sam Sharpe Square, where they were addressed by youth leaders.

NSSC president Andre Stephens urged his peers to be responsible students ready to make a positive difference in Jamaica. Stephens said, “The time has come for us to make a difference in our schools, communities and country. For too long, we as students have sat idly by and have allowed our schools to become overrun by negativity. It is time that we make a change.”

International Students’ Day is commemorated each year, on November 17. NCYD Youth Empowerment Officer with responsible for Student Governance Kevon Campbell noted that the youth rally was organised, “as a means of promoting youth advocacy and the active participation of youth in formulating strategies for addressing matters of civic and national interest”.

In addition to the rally, a students conference was also hosted at the West Jamaica Conference Centre, where students from across the island presented research papers on critical national issues, ranging in areas dealing with youth entrepreneurship; youth participation and empowerment; dancehall music and adolescent; and health and youth empowerment.