LUCEA, Hanover — Warning that Hanover is seeing an influx of ill-willed strangers, mayor of its capital, Lucea, Sheridan Samuels is calling on residents — especially the younger ones— to work together to prevent further fallout.

“This is exactly what we are seeing in Hanover, and Lucea in particular, where persons from out of town come here and are doing wrong and we turn a blind eye to it. I therefore encourage each and every one of us to own our community, get to know each other, and develop strategies to grow your community for greatness,” he urged.

Samuels was addressing the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development’s ‘Cross Island Run’ civic ceremony held on the grounds of the Hanover Municipal Corporation on Thursday. The event followed the symbolic handover, at the border of the two parishes, of the race’s baton from Westmoreland to Hanover.

The Cross Island Run was launched at the Portmore Municipal Corporation on October 19 by Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie under the theme ‘Reigniting a nation for goodness through local government’. The event, part of the slate of activities planned in observance of Youth Month, is back from a two-year hiatus due to the novel cornavirus pandemic.

For Mayor Samuels, the cross country run is symbolic in many ways as it shows the strength and determination of Jamaicans who work together.

“Hanover now has the torch. [We are] eager to show who we are and what we are capable of. Let us use this season not just to highlight Local Government Month but to use it as a benchmark for the work which has been done by those at the beginning as we ignite our nation for goodness through local government,” he suggested.

From Hanover the baton will be passed on to St James. The run will culminate with a National Church Service at the Kencot Seventh-day Adventist Church in Kingston on November 5.

The activities for Youth Month are made possible through collaboration between municipal corporations and the Social Development Commission.

A National Youth Forum slated for Hanover on November 24 is also among the activities planned.