SOME 18 students, ages 11 to 12, have formed the Junior Council of the municipality of Bartica on Wednesday.

The students were nominated from five public primary schools, two private primary institutions and two secondary schools in the township.

They will soon initiate the process for internal election of the junior mayor to head the Council.

Explaining the project and its aim, Town Clerk Phebe Wallerson, said President David Granger’s vision is to have youth participate at the local level and be aware of the local government system.

“This project is aimed at educating and developing students/pupils in the principles of local governance; cultivating among students the interest and desire in the local decision-making process; and establishing a junior council that will be equipped to advocate for issues affecting them,” Wallerson disclosed.

Mayor Gifford Marshall said that the establishment of youth councils and, by virtue the elections of junior mayors, is a step in the right direction and one that will seek to strengthen local democracy.

“By helping our youths to understand the importance of local democracy and also the importance of us developing our communities and leading by example will strengthen us as a people and our democratic system. These children, of course, will have the opportunity to form committees in their youth council, they will have an opportunity to debate issues and they will also be trained in leadership and capacity building at a very tender age. And this I believe, will be a coveted position and a lot of young people will want to be part of the process. And by this, I believe the young people will better understand the local authority system and understand how best to serve the people,” Marshall injected.

He congratulated the Council of Linden for leading by example, as they were the first municipality to have a junior mayor.

“And what we’re doing is an example of what Linden would have done, and I know all the other municipalities are expected also to elect youth councils and junior mayors,” the mayor said.

Going forward in 2020, he added, “not only will we see development in infrastructure and other facilities being done in the municipality, but we can expect great involvement from our young people, who we believe have a greater part to play in the development of our town. I’m looking forward to working with them to ensure we team up for the betterment of our township.”