ST JAMES, Jamaica — Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Leeroy Williams, is encouraging the increased involvement of youth in civic related activities in an effort to instill positive values and attributes.

According to a release, Williams was speaking at the St James leg of the Local Government Month Cross Island Run held in Sam Sharpe Square on Friday. He took the opportunity to educate the mostly youth-filled audience of the purpose of local government, while also commending their contribution to the event.

“Partnerships… are critical especially as we manoeuvre these unprecedented times. Members of our communities are looking forward to meaningful partnerships which impact them in a wholesome way. Similarly, with all these rapid changes happening around us, it is crucial to involve our youth population in civic minded activities to re-inculcate good values and positive attributes,” said Mayor Williams.

While expressing his gratitude to the youth runners who participated in this year’s Local Government Cross-Island Run, Williams suggested that even “while the mission of the Local Government Ministry is to provide a sound policy, the St James Municipal also has its specific functions which impact everyone, including the youth population.”

“The arms of the Municipal Corporation are far reaching and extend on behalf of the wider ministry. So as we seek to foster self and community empowerment, let us continue to build so Jamaica can realize vision 2030,” said Williams.

Also at the event were Deputy Mayor of Montego Bay and Chairman of the event, Councillor Richard Vernon, Capacity Development Coordinator at the Social Development Commission, Latoya Dobson- Fletcher, and Reverend Marc Mullings.

The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development launched its 2022 staging of its Cross Island Run on October 19, 2022 following a pause for two-years due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

The Run will culminate on November 5 at the National Church Service, which will be hosted at the Kencot Seventh-day Adventist Church in Kingston. The activity – organised through the Social Development Commission – is the precursor to Local Government and Community Month celebrated each year in November.