BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THIRTY students of the Verchild’s High School were enrolled in the Boy Scouts programme yesterday afternoon (Jan. 19), vowing to positively impact their environment by making ethical decisions throughout the course of their lives.
Held at the school’s compound, family members, friends and teachers of the students attended the ceremony which forms part of a thrust to revive the Scout Movement within the Federation.
SKNVibes understands that there are about five groups in the Federation, two in Nevis and three in St. Kitts, and the Movement is one which seeks to steer young boys in the right path and dissuade unprincipled and illegal behaviour.
During the ceremony, SKNVibes’ Stachio Williams, who hails from Sandy Point, presented the feature address which focused on the topic - “I am a promise”. He encouraged the scouts to work hard and continually climb the ladder of success.
Remarks were also given by Deputy Principal of the school, Lonzo Wilkerson.
According to the Boy Scouts Programme, it is “designed to develop boys character, citizenship, personal fitness, using the following methods: structured programme, high ideals, patrol method, outdoor activities, adult association, personal growth, leadership development and uniforming”.
The 30 children, aged 12 to 14 years, officially became Scouts having taken the Oath or Promise, which states: “On my honour I promise that I will do my best to do my duty to God and to my country, to help other people at all times and to keep the Scout Law.”
When they would have attained the age of 16 and a half, the Scouts will have the option of advancing to the Adventure Scouts.
Group Scout Leader for Verchild’s High, Pastor Clive Saunders told SKNVibes he believes that the enrollment of young males in such groups could greatly assist in curbing deviant behaviour.
“The Mission of the Scouts speaks to that, which is to prepare young people to make ethical choices over their lifetime by instilling within them the values of the Scouts’ Oath and Law. The Scouts’ Oath and Promise is a pledge which helps the community, world and ourselves. So it teaches them values and how to respect themselves and so forth.”
The ceremony was officiated by Scout Commissioner Agnola Dolphine and Assistant Scout Commissioner Geoffrey Hanley, both of whom administered the Oath.
