WESTERN BUREAU:

President of the West Jamaica Conference of Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) churches, Pastor Glen Samuels, is calling on the Government to grant tax-free status to private high schools that are involved in social intervention programmes.

He said this would allow organisations such as the SDA, to facilitate young people from inner-city communities, who are financially and socially challenged in obtaining secondary education.

"If the Government would heed our call and assist, we would be better able to transform the lives of countless young persons. Once youngsters are prepared to make the sacrifice to educate themselves, we will cover tuition costs," Pastor Samuels stated.

"We believe that, for every life that we transform, you may save 15 more."

He was speaking yesterday at a Gleaner Editors' Forum at The Gleaner's Western Bureau offices in Montego Bay.

The clergyman disclosed that the West Jamaica Conference (WJC) paid $1.6 million in salaries in November, while it had to seek a loan of $10 million from its parent body in Mandeville to underwrite statutory arrears totalling $6.3 million.

The remainder was used to finance the completion of two additional classrooms to accommodate more students at Savanna-la-Mar High School in Westmoreland.

"This means that you will now have more non-Adventist students in our schools than students who are traditionally connected to the Adventist faith," he explained.

Financial crunch

The WJC operates Harrison Memorial High in Montego Bay and Savanna-la-Mar. Pastor Samuels said the latter was experiencing a financial crunch and was being bailed out by the WJC. School fees are kept low to facilitate persons mainly from inner-city communities.

Pauline Reid, president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, was quick to give her full support to the call.

"Wherever we have these institutions that are willing to help in rebuilding our social structures they should be considered for tax-free status," Miss Reid said.