Our youths continue to spawn amazing talents in sports, music, education and community development at a time when our state appears very fragile to persevere against the most recent criminal atrocities.

That one flicker of hope on the horizon is our youths – talented, gifted and eager to achieve.

Sometimes, we appear too hasty to snub them because they may have tripped up along the way, falling prey to drug mules, gun pushers and the every increasing influence of American television which has enforced a mixed bag of cultural behaviours, but unfortunately, the calamitous aspects are retained and portrayed locally.

However, the real problem surfaces when adults opt to stay on the sidelines and pessimistically reach out to the youth, forgetting that a little encouragement can go a far way.

Last Saturday the Territory experienced an outpouring of young and energetic individuals at a concert organised by DJ Trash.

The share proliferation of vocal groups mostly within the high school is amazing and makes for an interesting analytical study. The choice of music is a blend of hip-hop and R&B propelled by a distinct VI cadence.

Despite the ridicule of some in society, these youths took to the stage with passion and enthusiasm, displaying talent that needs to be harnessed – packaged, branded and sold.

These very groups can be positioned to help spread the message of love, unity, togetherness and even help the police to launch a campaign that will ensure community involvement in the fight against crime.

Advertisements, infomercials and documentaries are some of the ways in which these talented youths can be utilised.

The recently introduced programme, “Lets Talk About Sex” is an amazingly fresh and bold step to involve the many musical groups in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Apart from DJ Trash and a sprinkling of a few others in the private sector, there has been an absence of any real move to work with the numerous groups.

Hence, the obligation has once again been shifted to Government to bolster ways to involve these many groups so that they can make a meaningful contribution to society.

The alternative to Government’s involvement or even the continued shying away by the private sector could prove detrimental in many aspects. Leaving the groups on their own may discourage them, push them to use their talent to create derogatory lyrics, which could breathe violence and gang related incidents, and will further erode our social fabric. 

At a time when the high school is facing increasing incidents of fights and other disruptions, finding ways to encourage and promote music is integral.

Perhaps the notion of employing some of these groups to help promote various government programmes may be a way forward and could certainly encourage the groups to keep focus on creating music.

This idea could be costly, but it a small price to pay for steering our youth in the right direction.

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