Camperdown High School is well known for its excellence in sports, having produced greats such as Glen Mills, Donald Quarrie, Wavel Hinds, and currently has high performing teams in volleyball as well as track and field. But the school is equally formidable in academics and has also produced many of the finest professionals and critical thinkers in Jamaica in areas of finance, politics, communication and marketing, and education. This week, we get the perspectives of the head boy and girl on the issue of national leadership.

NAME: Dayedria Bailey

DOB: August 19, 1997

CAREER ASPIRATION: Economist

Reason: Economics is life and with the current economic state that Jamaica is in I think my expertise will be valuable to our country.

NAME: Orley Huslin

DOB: March 27, 1997

CAREER ASPIRATION: Cardiologist

Reason: I wish to give my services to help others who are experiencing heart problems.

C&E: In your view, what are the tenets of an effective leader?

DB: In my view, an effective leader should definitely be a team player, one who can cope under stress, someone who sets an example, one who cares about the interest of others and I firmly believe that in order to be an effective leader one should follow in the footsteps of the greatest leader, Christ.

OH: An effective leader must lead by example with confidence, optimism and must support others.

C&E: What does it mean to you to be a student leader?

DB: This is actually my greatest achievement thus far and it means so much that I have been chosen to lead my peers; to help steer them in the right direction and help them become persons of value and high stature.

OH: To be a student leader, I must balance my time wisely in order to perform at my best so this will motivate others to overcome their individual challenges.

C&E: What’s your strategy in effectively leading your student body at Camperdown High School?

DB: I’m a democratic leader first of all; I’m quick to listen and slow to speak. Naturally, I’m a people person so I try to interact with them as much as possible but at the same time I ensure that discipline is maintained.

OH: My strategy is to outline clearly the roles of the prefect body and how it can be accomplished.

C&E: To whom do you look as a role model of effective leadership?

DB: I would say Mr Brian Wynter.

OH: My family is my role model. My mother Beverly Edwards gives me my strength; my brother Odele Huslin gives me my mental stability; my sister gives me my sociable personality; and my father Desmond Huslin for sternness when things should be done.

C&E: Do you see yourself occupying higher levels of leadership? Why or why not?

DB: Definitely; I know that I have a lot to offer, with the attributes I possess now and those I will accumulate later I will be able to impact lives and be a role model to others.

OH: Yes, I see myself occupying higher levels of leadership because I know my potential and I refuse to go for less.

C&E: Do you think Jamaica is being effectively led? Why or why not?

OH: No, because there are numerous issues that need to be addressed for the country to improve.

DB: No. I am of the view that this Government is not transparent and because they aren’t feeling first-hand the issues that the majority of us are feeling, they cannot effectively handle the issues.

C&E: What do you think parliamentarians can learn from you?

DB: I believe in inclusive leadership so the parliamentarians can learn to be inclusive with decisions that are bound to affect us rather than having us, the people who elected them, being the last to know about strategies they have already implemented.

OH: I think parliamentarians can adopt my strategy of identifying the roles of each representative and to have proper reporting and action.

C&E: As a young leader, do you think the political climate in Jamaica is welcoming to young people?

DB: I think young people in and around Jamaica will agree with me when I say a resounding NO.

OH: In my opinion, it is not welcoming as young people are not given the opportunity to extend themselves.

C&E: Do you think prospective cabinets should include more young people?

DB: Yes; how else are young people going to gain experience and shed light in this dark place if we aren’t given the opportunity while we are young and fresh? Young people are vibrant and willing for a change so perhaps with fresher minds we will see the well-needed change.

OH: Yes, I strongly believe that more young people should be in our prospective cabinets because they have new ideas for this changing era.

C&E: What do you think the youth have to offer that is different from the “old bones” in national leadership?

DB: Although we may not have the experience that age brings, we know what affects young people so we’ll be able to combat issues in that area. Additionally the “old bones” are not flexible and in order to survive in this world and be competitive on the global market, flexibility is needed and we will bring a different perspective on things.

OH: Things and times are changing, and so the upcoming youth should be able to carry out the jobs undertaken but as a youth, they will understand their generation more and the older generation can try to understand the current generation and ergo, will be able to make better decisions.

C&E: Do you think that there should be a retirement age for parliamentarians? Why or why not?

DB: Yes. A lot of these politicians seem as though they want to remain there until past 80. I do not believe that we should have 80-year-olds, regardless of how strong you are. We should have a world of experience in parliament. The fact is that, physically and mentally, they are not as strong anymore so pass on the expertise and give others a chance to lead.

OH: Yes, a retirement age should be set so that they can pass on the baton to the younger generations for they are the ones who are in the changing world.

C&E: As a leader and a person in general, how do you plan to contribute to national development?

DB: Since it is my intention to be an economist, I will be able to contribute my knowledge to national development so that our economy will have a chance of growing. Our children are the future, as we have always said, but talking is what most of us seem to like doing. I want to be a mentor to children so I can pass on my knowledge and help financially in whatever way I can thus helping them to better themselves and contribute to national development.

OH: This has already begun for me as each student of “The Diamond of the East”, Camperdown High School, is a member of our society and I have started to help each and everyone to be a valuable member of society while at Camperdown and even after they have left.

C&E: Finally, if you could give our leaders one piece of advice, what would it be?

DB: From now onwards, work on being transparent with the people of Jamaica and if you aren’t doing this, start a” war room” (prayer room) so that God can help you, and by extension Jamaica, fight our battles.

OH: My advice to them would be that no one knows everything but everyone knows something. This means that every voice counts and is a part of our body as one functioning whole for, no man is an island.

— Aldane Walters