On the 3rd of May 2008, the Grand Bahama Student Council in partnership with the GB YMCA, will be hosting its first annual “Lock Down On Crime.” This event is aimed at the tenth, eleventh and twelfth grade students at high schools on the island.

Over the course of nine hours, students will be exposed to topics such as gang violence and drug use. They will also have the opportunity to sit in smaller workshops and discuss the issues they are faced with and come up with real solutions to real problems. We feel this is important as it will allow those who are directly affected by certain situations to offer solutions that will work for them and their peers, solutions they feel will have a positive impact.

As Karon Pinder-Johnson put it, “They are doing all the work, I am just offering guidance, if they are any reflection as to what lies ahead for The Bahamas, I can truly say the best years are yet to come.” By asking students to provide solutions to the problems that apply to their lives, hopefully the solutions will actually work and their peers will listen so they can work together.

Rather than forcing students to get off the streets, the goal is to find programmes which will encourage students to do something positive, yet be a programme that they enjoy and are willing to attend.  We hope to take the ideas presented at the Lock Down and make an effort, through the 2008- 2009 GBSC term, to implement these ideas and make a positive and tangible impact on both the youth and the future of this nation. As Vice President, Ormand, put it: “This is an association of the youth, by the youth and for the youth,” which will hopefully continue into the future helping to shape our youth and hence the nation.

The Grand Bahama Student Council (GBSC) is an association comprised of representatives from Grand Bahama high schools which aims to promote youth empowerment through mentoring and positive examples as well as putting on functions by the students for the students which address issues and/or voids in current society.

The association, founded by Ormand T. Saunders II, came about as a result of a trip made by several students to Nassau to attend the National Youth Conference in February of this year. The idea being to join forces and devise ideas and solutions to everyday problems, especially the recent spike in violence within our schools and our nation.

The council currently consists of student representatives from:
• Alpha Omega
• Bishop Michael Eldon School
• Grand Bahama Catholic High School
• Jack Hayward High School
• Sunland Baptist Academy
• St. Paul’s Methodist College

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