The debate within Jamaican society on the issues of job creation and the role of citizens in nation building is about to be radically altered - thanks to an assembly of young student leaders whose brilliant ideas will form what is to be known as 'The Surrey Declaration'.

The students, who originate from the county of Surrey which covers Kingston, St Andrew, Portland and St Thomas, were the special guests at the Governor General's Achievement Awards Breakfast, at the Frenchman's Cove Hotel in Portland, yesterday.

The breakfast is a component of Governor General Dr Patrick Allen's 'I Believe' campaign, and is expected to be duplicated in other regions across Jamaica as a means of spreading the 'I Believe in Jamaica' vision.

There were many noteworthy youth speakers but the day's declaration came from an insightful student from St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS), Rushell Grant, who said every student should learn a skill.

The suggestion was heartily endorsed by Dr Allen, who described it as the quintessential point of the day's discussions.

"I think we've got it, from the young lady who spoke from STATHS. She said - and this is profound - every student in high school, should learn a skill, that's the declaration and I am 100 per cent with her on that!"

Kevon Rowe, head boy of Tichfield High School, was also an outstanding speaker.

Emphasis on agriculture

Going into great detail about the possibilities for wide-scale job creation, Rowe made a call for an emphasis on agriculture, and particularly the agro-processing sector, that Jamaicans can produce what we eat.

"On the matter of jobs and job creation - there are a lot of things that we are importing. If you look in your food cabinet and see 20 things, if you find two that say 'made in Jamaica' you find too much," Rowe argued.

"We want to have 18 that say made in Jamaica and two coming from overseas."

The students were also challenged to share their ideas for possible jobs they could create for themselves if they were to leave school within the next three weeks and needed immediate employment.

Hu-Ann Rhoden, an Annotto Bay resident studying at Immaculate Conception High School in St Andrew, said she would establish an evening institution in her community, and Khadeem Marriot of St Thomas Technical High School said - in an effort to rebuff the fallacy that 'only dunce people do agriculture' - he would set up an institution to teach youth the skills and benefits of the industry.

Shantal Bailey from Tichfield High School put forward two ideas which were evidently very well received. The sixth-form student says she and a group of friends already have in mind to start a tutoring service catering to younger students at the GSAT level. To top that off, they will also offer baby-sitting services.

andrew.wildes@gleanerjm.com

Students from schools in the county of Surrey had breakfast yesterday with Governor General Dr Patrick Allen at Frenchman's Cove in Portland, to discuss various issues as part of his 'I Believe' campaign. Today, we share some of the key ideas that came out of the discussion.

Kevon Rowe, head boy, Tichfield High School:

The minister of finance says he signs waivers daily for stuff we can make right here, so right there, agro-processing is a sector. Instead of importing pineapple puree we can make that easily in Jamaica. If we are producing our own food then we have more factories. In these factories there are jobs for skilled professionals ... from the factory you need to transport your goods to the point of distribution and that produces jobs in your transport sector ... and the list of jobs that we can create just from agro-processing can go on, and on and on.

Shereese Graham, Morant Bay High School:

First of all, we need to get back all our youths in school - that's the first thing we need to do. We need to talk to them, encourage them and assure them that when they have education they can get any work.

Rodje Malcolm, Ardenne High:

What if each MP held something like this ('I Believe' sessions) in their constituency, where they inform the community of what is happening, what the government is doing, and help them believe that the government is doing something ... Just forums like this where we the youths are being empowered, where successful persons go in and share, saying 'this can happen if you go to school', 'this can happen if you change your ways'.

Rushell Grant, St Andrew Technical High School:

In high schools, every student should learn skills, everyone should do agriculture, do entrepreneurship and learn to handle a business, learn how to grow the food that we eat, utilise the resources we have and beautify Jamaica.