MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Manchester Custos Garfield Green says in order for the country to steer young people away from criminality, there has to be a greater effort to instil patriotism in them.

“We have lost some of our basic values which formed the foundation on which this island was built,” Green said during the ceremonial reopening of the new school year in Manchester on Monday.

Green, whose office had spearheaded the ceremony at May Day High, said six schools — Christiana High, Manchester High, Cross Keys High, Porus High, New Forest High, and Mile Gully High — participated in the activity virtually.

“It is our objective to eventually reach the students in all schools with the message of patriotism. There is no better place to start than in our schools to tackle and address the social ills in our society. We want our schools at all levels to produce well-rounded students with self-respect, respect for others…and to build on the founding values and principles of our nation,” he explained.

Green also lamented the high level of violence in schools, describing it as unacceptable.

“I find it very sad, very troubling for our police officers to now be stationed in the schools…It is necessary, but that tells me that our children are in trouble,” he said.

Green, a lieutenent colonel in the Jamaica Combined Cadet Force, encouraged students to join the cadets, saying that it will help to teach them “discipline, values, respect and will help you to make that decision to shun evil. When people come to you to join gangs, you can stand tall and say I will not be a part of it”.

Last year, Green launched a Beliefs, Values and Attitudes (BVA) programme aimed at facilitating attitudinal change and social revitalisation.

Regional director for the Ministry of Education’s Region 5, Ottis Brown, commended Green for organising the ceremonial reopening of schools in Manchester.

“This is a very important activity…This is something we should look forward to doing annually, it teaches you to add morals, [and] it gives you a sense of pride in your school,” said Brown.

— Kasey Williams