MAY PEN, Clarendon — Newly minted youth mayor of May Pen Tejaun Hall has vowed to work alongside councillor for the Palmers Cross Division Carlene, Benjamin to make the division better.

Benjamin encouraged the 19-year-old to put himself forward for the post, and last Friday Hall was successful. He is the Clarendon Municipal Corporation’s youth leader for 2024/2025 in addition to being the junior representative for the division.

“I am feeling quite elated and happy; it is a good feeling. I could just hear Councillor Benjamin in my ear telling me to compete, and ensure I’m in the contest, and to do my best because I have a good shot at winning. At the end of the competition when the announcement was made I was overjoyed, but I’m a reserved person so I was happy but didn’t show too much happiness,” said the teenager who is studying dentistry at University of Technology, Jamaica.

Benjamin could not hide her excitement at her protégé’s accomplishment.

“As councillor for the Palmer’s Cross Division I feel really good that my youth councillor is the youth mayor for the town of May Pen. I am happy that the Palmers Cross Division is now in the limelight for something positive, so people will see that this is where greatness begins,” she said.

“All the youth councillors that I’ve chosen throughout the years are youth of substance but Tejaun Hall is going to take the Palmer’s Cross Division to places. I will not leave him from under my wings. I am proud, and I know he will make Palmers Cross Division the division I want it to be,” she added.

Hall’s mother Keresha Smith said she was not surprised as he has always been an achiever.

“I never expected less from Tejaun, [only] more, because he has always surpassed all my expectations,” she said.

“I have always seen greatness in him, and I have always told him that if he sees himself at 75 per cent, he’s to always aim for 85. That has always been my pass mark for him and he has always exceeded that,” continued the proud mom.

Hall is a graduate of Glenmuir High where he was a member of the quiz team. He later completed sixth form at Munro College. He was also the Ministry of Local Government’s Board of Supervision top achiever for CSEC in 2022, and top CAPE performer for 2023.

Smith said her son is very humble, and she loves that he is caring towards his younger brother who looks up to him.

With so many people expecting great things of him, Hall is determined to make a difference in his new role as youth mayor. He said he is already in dialogue with his councillor to see how best they can make an impact on their community.

The competition that saw him elected was held at Clarendon Municipal Corporation last Friday. There were 10 junior council nominees vying for the roles of youth mayor and deputy.

The corporation’s Chief Executive Officer Rowhan Blake encouraged them all to make the most of the experience. “

“The fact that you are brave enough to walk through those doors, and come in here and give of yourselves says a lot about you. Being a good leader doesn’t mean you have to be a good speaker; it’s in your attire, your personality, and your ability to lead,” he told the youngsters.

“Not because a person is soft spoken or quiet [means they cannot lead] — there’s a place for them too. What you must do is figure out what your advantage is and work on that, focus on that,” he urged.

He also gave an assurance that the corporation is committed to working with youth councillors throughout the year on various activities and initiatives, and will be providing the necessary guidance.