Get involved in the Scout movement – GG

GOVERNOR GENERAL Sir Patrick Allen is encouraging more young persons to get involved in the scout movement.

Sir Patrick, who is the chief scout of Jamaica, pointed out that the valuable scout movement has helped to shape and to build character in the country’s young men and women for over 100 years.

He was speaking at a public meeting of the Scout Association of Jamaica on the lawns of King’s House on Thursday.

The governor general pointed out that young persons who participate in scouting activities “will be the better for it because the values that you will learn, the interactions that you have with adult mentors and you will be able to devote some time and energy to developing characteristics and skills that will last you for a lifetime”.

“You learn through the scout movement to be trustworthy, you learn how to be loyal. You learn how to be helpful, how to be friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, how to be thrifty, how to be respectful,” he said.

“These values are ones that everyone of us should live by and we would have a better Jamaica and a better world if we are all patriotic, honest, doing the best we can at all times, caring for others, working together,” he added.

In the meantime, Sir Patrick praised the leaders of the scout movement for contributing to an increase in membership.

“[From] 2010 to 2012, we noticed that there was a decline in the membership of the scout movement but we have seen an increase … (I am) pleased to see us returning to seeing positive results in terms of our membership,” he said.

Founded in 1910, the Scout

Association of Jamaica aims to promote the development of young people in achieving their full physical, intellectual, social and spiritual potential, as individuals, as responsible citizens and as members of their local, national and international communities.

It is the mission of the Scout Association to develop good citizenship among boys/girls, forming their character, training them in habits of observation, obedience and self-reliance, inculcating loyalty and thoughtfulness for others, teaching services useful to the country and skills useful to themselves.

CONTRIBUTED Governor-General Sir Patrick Allen (left), and chief commissioner, Scout Association of Jamaica, Maurice Brown, unveil the newly-designed emblem of the Association during a public meeting of the Scout Association of Jamaica at King’s House on Thursday.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS Governor-General Sir Patrick Allen (centre), with members of the Scout Association of Jamaica who have been presented with the Queen’s Scout badge. They are from left: Alex Brown, Dwight Crowl, Shaver Dacres, Tremayne Morgan, Edsoneil Walker and Jevaughn Wint. Sir Patrick made the presentation during a public meeting of the Scout Association of Jamaica at King’s House on Thursday. The Queens Scout badge is the highest youth award achievable in the scouting movement in the Commonwealth.

IAN ALLEN Kyle Gregg, with hand on vehicle, shows off his race car to (from left), Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett; Minister of Energy, Science and Technology Fayval Williams; president of the Jamaica Gasolene Retailers Association, Gregory Chung and CEO of GB Energy-Texaco Jamaica, Mauricio Pulido, at the Texaco Jamaica , Centenary Anniversary press launch, held at Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston on February 19.

CONTRIBUTED Governor General Sir Patrick Allen presents Mary Brammer from the scout district of Clarendon with her Silver Crocodile award. The presentation was made during a public meeting of the Scout Association of Jamaica on the lawns of King’s House on Thursday, February 21.