Under the theme, “Be Wise Choose Right”, The Royal Montserrat Police and Fire & Rescue Service in collaboration with various Government and Non-Government agencies held their annual Junior Citizen Day on Tuesday, November 1, 2011, in the police and Fire compound in Brades.
There were booths representing the Montserrat Red Cross, Traffic Department, Montserrat Utilities Limited (MUL) water Division, Fire and Rescue Services, Partners of America, Environmental Health and the Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO).
The day, hailed a success by fire officer Desi Irish, was organized for grade six (6) pupils from the island’s primary schools. Irish noted that the idea of the different location was ideal; he noted that it alleviated some of the problems previously experienced in Little Bay. The pupils were placed in various groups and were ushered by teachers to the booths. All the representatives from the different organization and agencies told The Montserrat Reporter (TMR) that the pupils were very responsive. They pupils were presented with safty booklets and certificates at the end of the exercise.
Environmental health officer Yonette Hunte, told TMR that it was a good avenue to educate the children. She said the Environmental Health Department used the opportunity to sensitise the pupils on the spread and prevention of diseases. Miss Hunte explained that the pupils were told how they can take responsibility for their environment, about proper hygiene, hand washing, temperatures and food safety. “The responses from the children were excellent,” Miss Hunte said.
When asked how the Junior Citizen Day can be improved Miss Hunte said improvement can be made from the participant’s point of view.
Sergeant George Ryan told TMR that it is very important that children are aware of safety rules. He said the pupils were shown the different traffic signs and told what they signified. The sergeant said the pupils were taught how to use a pedestrian crossing and were each given a traffic related puzzle to re-enforce what they learnt.
Red Cross volunteer Yusuf Muhammad, said he used the occasion to educate the pupils about the work of the Red Cross and the purpose of the different groups within the Red Cross. Muhammad said he taught the pupil some basic first aid treatments. He noted that the pupils were very interested in the first aid demonstrations and participated fully in the quiz.
Grade six (6) teacher at the St. Augustine Primary School, Miss Evelyn Gibson said she have been attending junior citizen day for the past five years. “This year’s junior citizen day has improved,” she said. “The children are all enthused and I know when they get back they will share with grade five (5); the interest was high and it was maintained throughout the whole exercise.” Miss Gibson added that she is anxiously looking forward for greater things next year.
Miss Inez Allen of the Brades primary school also said that her school’s children were very excited about Junior Citizen Day. “I notice some of them are eager to learn, they asked lots of questions,” Miss Allen said, noting that the activity was very beneficial to the children.
New Education and Outreach Officer at the MVO, Miss Sonja Melander, said she spoke to the pupils about different volcanic phenomena and the different career opportunities within the MVO. Miss Melander said the pupils were very interested in what they were learning. Electronics Technician Carlisle ‘Pyiko’ Williams showed the pupils how vibration in the earth can be measured using the seismometer. Williams reported that he also explained to the pupils how the instruments are installed. Seismic and scientific assistant Racquel ‘Tappy’ Syers, demonstrated the electronic distance metre and told the pupils about his work at the MVO.
Laboratory technician at the Montserrat Utilities Limited (MUL), water division said his team demonstrated one aspect of the testing done at the laboratory. She said the pupils were very interested in the demonstration. The water division maintenance staff also demonstrated their work to the pupil.
Some children gave feedback on their experiences. “I learned how to purify water and I learn when there is an oil fire, you use foam instead of water.” said Stevikha Foster grade six pupil of the Look Out Primary School.
Nia Golden, grade six (6) pupil of The St. Augustine Primary School said, “I learnt from the MVO about a seismometer that measures movements, checks earthquakes and measures three different angles. I learnt about a GPS, which collects data from a satellite up in the sky and a receiver which saves the information. I learnt about an EDM that measures distance, (with the help of reflectors) that are around the volcano”.
