THE OPTIMIST Club of Braeton has vowed not to allow the killing of seven young men in their community to dampen their efforts in working with the youth.
Lobby groups and individuals in Jamaica and abroad have been calling for answers to explain how the seven young men, mostly teenagers, were shot to death by the police in Braeton on March 14.
Newly-installed club president Dorothy Minott said the tragedy had strengthened their resolve to be the "Friend of Youth".
The club recently observed its fifth anniversary at the same time that it installed officers for the new administrative year 2000-2001 at the Portmore HEART Academy.
George Lee, chairman of the Portmore Municipality Develop-ment Committee, said that too few persons were offering themselves for service and there were problems in the environment for example which needed their support.
He explained why Portmore was seeking city status. He spoke of the problem of towns springing up without proper planning and said that Portmore was one of several towns growing without a plan, without guidance and in need of municipality status.
Past president Daphne Brown said that the club had weathered the storm of the past year, maintaining standards of distinction. She urged members to continue to build the club and in the words of the Optimist Creed 'to think only of the best, to work only for the best and expect only the best'.
Lieutenant-Governor Yvonne Reid who presented Mrs. Minott with the bell and gavel of office, told her that she had been chosen because of her "outstanding leadership ability'. She challenged the officers and directors to provide leadership, inspiration and recognition as well as initiative necessary to elevate the club in community affairs and to so administer it that it would attain distinguished status.
Mrs. Minott said she had inherited a rich, distinguished legacy and she would not be satisfied to sit on the bottom rung of the ladder but to work to the top in the service of youth. She said that the recent tragedy in the community would inspire them to continue to be the "Friend of Youth" as their motto declared. "We will remain steadfast and committed to our youth," Mrs. Minott said.
The new officers are Dorothy Minott, president; Daphne Brown, immediate past president; Elmena Flowers, vice-president, Yvonne Fearon, vice-president and Angela Mcfarlane, secretary/treasurer. Directors include Owen Saunderson, Annette Sterling, Beverley James, Amelia Lawrence, Elaine Rose and Glenford Minott.
