Dear Editor, Sir:

Quite recently I had the opportunity to attend a ceremony at the Hermitage Park. It was a launch put on by Dean Rhoden, who is the district commissioner of the scouts.

Rhoden, who has been a citizen of Hermitage for more than 30 years, said he wants to see peace in the community. He said what is relevant is education and he is trying his very best to see to it that adults and youngsters that are not literate enough be educated to a level. At present, he as enrolled about 180 persons and has got volunteers from UWI and UTech.

At the council, Sizzla was present and he had made a pledge to contribute $300,000 towards the Dean Rhoden Education Programme plus assisting the unfortunate in purchasing books and assisting them to go back to school. I would like to hail Sizzla for this big step that he has taken. I would like to see more artistes coming forward to assist in programme like these in other communities.

I think Sizzla has taken a big step forward with regards to assisting a worthy cause and I would like to say bless up to the district commissioner of scouts, Mr. Dean Rhoden, who has shown himself to be a people person.

One lady commented that since the launch of the programme her 12-year-old child had improved in spelling.

I would like to see these initiatives being taken in more communities, especially since I beleive it will cause more youths to turn away from violence.

The devil will find work for idlers, so I think the more their minds are occupied positively, the more you will see the crime rate decreasing.

I would like the Government to set up some community centres so that residents who was not fortunate to get education will have the opportunity to catch up.

I am, etc.,

Mark Bell

Harbour View