MONTEGO BAY, St James — DEPUTY Chief Commissioner with the Scout Association of Jamaica, Albert Ferguson, leaves the island today for Curacao where he will join a team of experienced scouters from across the Caribbean and the United States, who will serve as members of the International Service Team (IST) during the 15th Caribbean Scout Jamboree to be held from July 21 to 28, in the Dutch Caribbean island.

The St James native who has direct responsibility for Area 3 with the Scout Association of Jamaica — which embraces the parishes of Trelawny, St James, Hanover and Westmoreland — has vowed to ensure that the experience gained from the assignment will redound to the benefit of the association and by extension his country.

“After serving in various leadership positions for more than 20 years, the 15th Caribbean Scout Jamboree will be my first major scouting experience outside of Jamaica and I will use the opportunity to help reposition the Scout Association of Jamaica and to see how best the trip will enable me to assist my country,” he added.

The IST is charged with the responsibility of the logistics of the Jamboree ahead of the more than 800 scouts and their leaders who are expected to be in attendance.

The sole person from Jamaica this year to serve on the IST, Ferguson told the Jamaica Observer West that his selection comes as a direct request from Scouting Antiano, the Scout Association in Curacao.

“I have decided to give of my time and knowledge as an experienced camper at least one month ahead of the staging of the once-in-a- lifetime event for many scouts and their leaders for this regional and world event, which is held every four years. The organising committee in Curacao wants to ensure that every scout and their leader have a comfortable and memorable experience, thus the need for me arriving in that country ahead of the start of the Jamboree,” Ferguson explained.

Meanwhile, a contingent comprising five boys, a leader and a member of the management team from the Scout Association of Jamaica will leave the island next month for the Jamboree, where they will spend eight days parading their scouting skills of survival, pioneering, exploring and engaging in community service.

The Jamaican contingent will be led by Field Commissioner Delroy Davis, while the contingent manager is Executive Commissioner Joyce Malcolm, who is also Jamaica’s first female training commissioner.

Malcolm noted that since the establishment of the Scout Association of Jamaica in 1910, Jamaica has attended all previous Caribbean Scout Jamborees, adding that this year’s delegation will ensure that the island’s culture will be on display at the Jamboree.

The 15th Caribbean Scout Jamboree will be held under the theme ‘Life, tracking treasures.’