South Trelawny tailor wants more substance than hype from politics

WESTERN BUREAU:

Because of the partisan nature of Jamaica’s politics, the diehard supporters of the two major political parties tend to place hype over substance. However, for South Trelawny tailor Bradley Sterling, a perennial supporter of his member of parliament, the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert, he wants tangible benefits.

Three days before last Friday’s Trelawny South by-election, which his favoured candidate won easily over Independent candidate Lloyd ‘Muzzy’ Gillings, Sterling sought and got a meeting with Dalrymple-Philibert, who will now serve her fifth consecutive term, and outlined his expectations as to what he would like to see done to improve the lives of residents.

“I sat down and gave it a good thought. I said that while the roads need to be fixed and residents need water, there must be things put in place for sustainable development,” Sterling told The Gleaner. “I told her (Dalrymple-Philibert) that she should discuss with the minister of education (Dr Dana Morris Dixon) the curriculum changes that would introduce a skills training programme from grades nine to 11. There are students in high schools who are not great at the sciences nor the arts but who would benefit from tailoring, dressmaking, plumbing, electrical installation, to name a few subject areas.

“You might say HEART does that, but look at the age group attending HEART, skills training in schools would see students graduating with skills that would make them ready for the workplace or becoming entrepreneurs.”

In looking at the situation in Warsop, where he resides and operates his tailoring business, Sterling said he could not find any young person in the community who is ready to learn the trade.

“I have an order to build 40 vests, and I can’t find the help I need,” said Sterling, who noted that the youngsters are clearly not focused and care very little about their personal development or nation-building.

“Look at the voters (at Friday’s by-election) and you see a glaring absence of young people. They are not interested in politics or want to know how government functions,” remarked Sterling. “You ask 10 students from Albert Town High School and 10 from Troy High School who is the minister of education and see how many of them know. The time has come for a reintroduction of the teaching of civics in schools. Dalrymple-Philibert agreed with my suggestions and promised to work on them.”

When asked to comment on Sterling’s skills training suggestion, Linvern Wright, the president of the Jamaica Association of Principals of Secondary Schools, and principal at William Knibb High School, applauded the ideas he advanced.

“It is a sensible thing to do. It must however be properly resourced in terms of equipment and materials to support the competencies needed at that stage,” said Wright.

Gregory Brown, the principal of Knockalva High, in Hanover, was also receptive of the idea to reintroduce civics as well as to turn a renewed spotlight on skills training.

“Both ideas have my full support. In terms of the skills training, it is an excellent idea. Many students will benefit from it. There are students whose ability with the sciences is limited. Yet, they have skills with their hands. This will keep them interested in school and prepare them for life after graduation,” said Brown. “As it relates to the teaching of civics, that should never have been taken off the curriculum. From the primary school up, that subject should be taught. It would broaden the children’s knowledge.”

Albert Town-based environmentalist Hugh Dixon was full of praise for Sterling’s attitude to politics and his suggestions and is hoping more persons will, over time, develop that level of political maturity.

“Look how difficult it is to find a good tailor or dressmakers. Skills training in schools will, I am sure, provide these competencies for the society at large,” said Dixon. “On the matter of civics teaching, young people have no knowledge of the electoral system or, for that matter, Government on the whole. Look at the voter turnout in the recent by-election. Twenty-four per cent is bad… it is made up of older voters. The young people need to be made aware of their civic responsibilities.”

editorial@gleanerjm.com