The following is the statement made by Minister Rhoda Arrindell during Wednesday’s Council of Ministers Press Briefing.
Press Statement
by Hon. Minister of Education, Culture, Sports & Youth Affairs, Rhoda Arrindell
Council of Ministers Press Briefing
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Madame Prime Minister,
(Colleagues in the Council of Ministers),
Members of the Media,
Residents of our beloved St. Martin,
Good Morning.
We’re now down to the wire where the "Get off the Block, Get on the Bus, Get Busy" or GB3 youth project is concerned. As you already know, the official launch of the project is scheduled for Saturday, April 2, 2011.
I am pleased to inform you that the pre-registration process is progressing very well, and from all indications, we may have more participants than we had initially envisaged.
A random sampling of the registration forms shows the kind of young people we are targeting and what they themselves think of the project. One 22-year-old male who has registered simply said he would like to have a job and "live good."
Regarding the GB3 project, he added: "Feel like it going to be a good chance to become something."
Another 22-year-old, pre-registered participant said he was put out of school because he was involved in violence, but added that he would like to finish his education; while another 17- year-old, who is working, expressed the wish to complete his schooling at the Milton Peters College and then "leave the island," I believe to further his studies.
This is the whole idea of the GB3 project: to give our young people not only hope for a better future, but the tools to achieve their ambitions and dreams. Being on the block does not mean they do not have dreams and ambitions or that they do not want to become somebody.
As a society, we do not have the luxury to continue to turn our backs on them. As a matter of fact, we would be doing so at our own peril. That is why we must get them off the block, get them on the bus, so they know their present station is not their destination, and get them busy so that through their own effort and a little push from us collectively, they can pull themselves out of the vicious cycle of negativity, violence, and hopelessness and become responsible members of the society, contributing their own share to the development of their island.
With regards to the day of the launch proper, I can confirm that, indeed, the world famous AND 1 will be here solely to participate in the GB3 activities and take on a St. Martin selection that will include some of the participants in an exhibition basketball game. This exhibition game will be held at the Great Bay Sports Auditorium.
Need I say that no one knows how to put on a show on the basketball court like AND 1? You saw them when they were here late last year. You’ll have a chance to see them again, in full force. Why AND 1? Because their story took them also from the block and got them busy to the point that they became a business brand! It’s the kind of story our young people can easily relate to.
I take this opportunity to invite youngsters up to age 25 who might still be interested in playing on the St. Martin team to show up for try-outs and practice this Thursday, March 24, at 4:30 p.m. at the St. Maarten Academy (academic section) gym.
Ladies and Gentlemen, we have gotten very busy with this project, and now I can unveil the T-shirt which will be on sale this week.
There will also be a matching cap, and it is my understanding that those who show up at the Great Bay Sports Auditorium in their GB3 T-shirt and cap will be admitted free of charge to the AND-1 exhibition game on April 2nd. Proceeds from this event will go to the Upkeep Foundation, which, as you know, needs funds to repair the floor of the Auditorium that was recently damaged.
Let me stress again that the "Get off the block, Get on the bus, Get busy" or "GB3" youth project is a public-private partnership. The private sector is demonstrating indeed that it is committed to the youth of our island. I thank all those who have offered their enthusiastic support to the project so far. I also urge others who are still to come on board to do so. We will be contacting you for your invaluable financial and other assistance you may be able to render. This is the time to get on the bandwagon and, together, let’s make our youth know that we have not forgotten nor abandoned them.
I cannot thank the people of St. Martin enough for the positive response they have been giving us. But this is not about us; it is about the young people of this island who we say are the future of St. Martin. It is about those who think society does not care about them. It is for them, by them and with them, that this project was conceived.
As I said before, GB3 is not a "government thing"; it is not a Rhoda thing; it is a St. Martin thing. As a people, we are on the move and we cannot afford to fail our youth. We are all in this together, for the sake of St. Martin. The success of this project will determine how we can move forward confidently as a people, knowing that our most valuable asset, our people, especially our young people are not left by the wayside, on the block, feeling alienated and giving in to their baser instincts.
I believe strongly in our young people and in their capacity to achieve whatever they set their minds to. I’m sure you do too. In the best spirit of that adage that says it takes a village to raise a child, let’s make this happen, together. We have no other option, because our youth are counting on us.
In conclusion, as always, I am available to answer whatever questions you may have for me.
I thank you.