The Youth Summer Employment Pogramme (YSEP) has grown by 50% this year with respect to the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC). I must applaud the Minister of Local Government and Community Development as well as the Government of Jamaica, for their continued support and inclusion of the youth.
As young residents of Kingston, I want you to consider the YSEP as an opportunity to contribute something meaningful to the growth and development of your city. You may have seen and heard of several changes being made across the city with respect to development and investment. As mayor, allow me to highlight that the greatest investment that this administration is making is in the youth.
The projects and developments being undertaken in the public service and private sector are for the benefit of the Jamaica that you, the youth, will inherit. So do not pay attention only to the salary that you will receive; the greater value is to be placed on the experience that you will be receiving. You will one day be the managers of this city and this is an opportunity for you to appreciate the care and work that goes into managing a city.
Kingston has a lot of potential and it will require consistent growth and changes for many years to allow us to realize our full potential. It is my vision as mayor to have lasting and solid improvements to the infrastructure and development of the city. Whatever we build must have a positive impact of society and make significant changes to the current state of affairs.
Persons ought to see the changes that come from your hard work and your ideas and say to themselves; "The Ting Tuff."
Grasp the opportunity with both hands and treat your responsibilities with utmost respect. I look forward to this programme each year because it gives the KSAMC a chance to directly interact with the nation’s future.
The work that was contributed in 2017 helped us significantly in planning for the services we offered to several communities is this year and likewise; your labour in 2018 will invaluably contribute to the work and projects that are to come. In all honesty; as Mayor allow to make a confession: We cannot pay you for the work that you will be doing over the next couple of weeks. The value is so great. We will however compensate you for the hard work and commitment that I am sure you will apply to the various tasks you will be assigned.
I see before me today not students, not just employees but I see solid contributors to the development of our city. I see Strong leaders and thinkers and that is exactly what Kingston needs. Problems are solved by thinkers. So I encourage each of you today to not only view this week as a summer job; but view it as an opportunity to see the city from a different perspective and think of solutions to every problem you will encounter.
You have the ability to do it. Each of you possesses great potential to be agents of change. I am certain of it even more since the past year of interaction with our 2017/2018 Youth Mayor and Junior Councillors. They have left a mark on this city through their participation in several projects and you can do the same. I encourage each of you to be ambassadors of your communities and your divisions and know who your representatives are. Engage them and assist them. Be a part of the solution. Not a part of the problem.
I look forward to great things from each and every one of you, not just as employees under the YSEP; but as positive contributors to the future of Kingston and by extension the future of Jamaica.
Sincerely,
Senator Cllr. Delroy H Williams
Mayor of Kingston
