THE Barbados Boy Scouts Association has been lauded for its contribution of enabling some of the island’s young boys to release their energies in a positive direction.
This commendation came from the honourable Donville Inniss and principal of the West Terrace Primary School Ovid Gibbs, when delivering remarks during the West Terrace Cub/Scout Group investiture ceremony, at the school on Sunday.
Twenty-six members were invested, made up of ten beavers, 11 cubs and five scouts. It was highlighted that West Terrace Primary School was expanding faster than any other in the scouts’ movement. This is because the school has had two major investitures in the year, which a scout leader described as “rare”.
Inniss pointed out that in today’s society when young men were being castigated, boys within the association have been setting high standards as they make positive contributions to their communities.
“It takes a village to raise a child and that has been missing in Barbados. Far too often in society, we are happy as parents to send our children to church but not to go with them,” said Inniss, who also encouraged villages across the island to get back to raising children.
 Gibbs said that involvement in scouting carried many benefits, including the fundamental principle of the movement which is that of giving your best. He noted that this was a rather demanding request but one that was critical for young boys to practice if they were to develop into worthwhile citizens.
He promised the boys who were invested that their parents, the school and the community, would give them all the support needed to ensure that they gave of their best.
“Boys, you are required to set examples to the other students so they can follow your lead. The uniform you will wear carries lots of responsibility. Students of the school and adults alike would be proud of you as you carry your uniform well. I challenge you to become beacons and remember, nothing at all must be done by you to cause shame to the organization whether or not you are dressed in uniform, said the principal.
Meanwhile, the association’s Deputy Chief Commissioner, Owen Springer, encouraged the newly invested scouts to fulfil the promise: “to do my best, to do duty to God, the Queen and my country, to help other people at all times and to obey the Cob Law”.
He then advised:“To make a promise and then fail to keep it is to break one’s word. You will never be trusted if you break your word. So do try to keep your word. To do your best, you have to put your whole heart in your effort to fulfil your promise. Try and aim higher each day or do better each day as you grow older.” (AH)
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