Wife of the Governor-General and Patron of the Jamaica 4-H Clubs, The Most Honourable Lady Allen heaped praises on the 4-H movement for its involvement in community development and accomplishment as the largest youth organization in the country.
Speaking at the 75th Anniversary Banquet staged by the St. Catherine 4-H Clubs at the Police Training College on February 13, 2016, Lady Allen lauded the role of the institution in agricultural development and commented that, “It is impressive, the strides you are already making with the agriculture training programme implemented to empower over 230 inmates in the St. Catherine Adult Correctional Facility.”
“The Jamaica 4-H Clubs have come a very long way from the early days of being the juvenile arm of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), with a modest number of participants, to over 94,000 “Clubbites,” Her Excellency pointed out.
She further encouraged the St. Catherine 4-H to sustain the programme because through it, they are “cultivating in them (inmates) skills which will increase their likelihood of becoming entrepreneurs and or gainfully employed individuals at their re-entry into society.”
In the homecoming like atmosphere, Her Excellency was reunited with Florence Buchanan her Moneague College 4-H Club batch mate and His Excellency’s Junior, who expressed how proud she was of Their Excellencies service to public life.
Meanwhile, Jamaica 4-H Executive Director, Dr. Ronald Blake in delivering his address lauded the movement for keeping young people engaged through it several character building activities and citied recent statistic which he said shows that young people involved in the 4-H Club delay sexual involvement by 37%.
Messrs O’Brien Johnson, Henry Kettle, Eric Scott, Collin Woodham and Mesdames Girlydene Watson and Alvarine Henry were awarded for their contribution to the movement in the parish. There were also a number of performances from students and members of community groups involved in the movement across the parish.