THE Scouts Association of Guyana on Thursday held what is being dubbed the largest ever investiture ceremony for the acceptance of scouts since the establishment of scouting in this country.

Under the watchful eyes of ‘D’ Division Commander, Senior Superintendent, Ian Amsterdam; Deputy Commander, Stephen Mansell; Scouts Commissioner, Ms. Zida Joaquin, and other senior police and scout members, 37

young people were given their scouting badges and decorations at the Leonora Police Station, while six of them were entrusted with the power to lead the young scouts.

Commissioner of Scouts, Zida Joaquin, in her address, expressed appreciation and gratitude to the police for what she described as a good move, referring to it as the rebirth of the grouping in the division.

She told her new young officers that, with their involvement in the organisation, which has an international body, they are being prepared for life; and will be taught life skills and how to deal with the challenges of life.

Most importantly, she said, they would be expected to perform at least one good deed each day, in keeping with scouting principles; and she cautioned them to expect to be held to the highest level within their various communities.

She added that with scouting come responsibilities, which include the need to always walk the right path. Further, she warned them not to be distracted, and not to be led off course when a few things don’t seem to be going according to folks’ liking.

She said the scout leaders should understand their roles and bear in mind that they have an obligation to guide, mould and encourage the young scouts to remain in the organisation.

She, however, noted that the activities to keep one interested in any organisation should be exciting, and as such, she opined that leaders must plan programmes that would stimulate the interest of members.

The issue of shortage of uniforms was raised, and Ms. Joaquin encouraged the new scouts not to be discouraged at the present unavailability of uniforms and absent themselves from appointments.

“We are preparing you for leadership and service to your country,” Ms. Joaquin added.

Another senior scout member of the ‘D’ Division said that a mere 300 persons had been interested in scouting at initial formation of the division’s scouting group; and that amount had eventually dwindled, due to various reasons, to approximately 200. But presently, ‘D’ Division has more than two hundred young people who should soon be joining the scouting group. Securing uniforms for them was a big bugbear; hence the division was able to swear only the forty persons on Thursday.

In his address, Commander Amsterdam welcomed the group and related that their first assignment would be participating in today’s route march to mark the Guyana Police Force 175th Anniversary.

He said that since he assumed command of the division some three months ago, and was briefed on its activities, only the scouts group in the division had, and still does, impress him.

He said he noticed much interest being shown by the young of the grouping there, and he informed the scouts management that whenever young people are trained and sworn in as scouts, they feel a sense of pride and are motivated to work even harder to continue achieving.

With respect to the other scouts, who had not been given a chance to be sworn in because of the lack of uniforms, the commander committed to having the issue finalised as early as possible, lest the children begin feeling a sense of alienation from the grouping and begin to desire opting out of the programme.

Any such move, he said, would mean more work for the police, as the children would eventually return to the life which allows them not to be disciplined but to be influenced by things which could amount to unlawful acts.

He assured that the Guyana Police Force would not be giving up on the scouting association in Guyana, and he committed to the continued approach of the members of the force to give of their time and energy to assist in moulding of the children.

Parents who were present at the event were also encouraged to continue being involved in the activities and lives of their children, especially the ones associated with scouting.

The young people would serve the scouts in the capacity of Leaders, Venture Scouts, Explorer Scouts and Club Scouts.

(By Leroy Smith)