Orville McTaggart - Photo by Leighton Levy

A newly formed organisation will this weekend launch a programme aimed at creating opportunities for the young people living in one central Jamaica community which has had its existence threatened by crime and violence.

Sandy Bay in South East Clarendon presents a microcosm of what ails Jamaica today. For almost a decade, crime and violence has virtually crippled the community of an estimated 9,000 residents. Social programmes are non-existent and there is little hope.

"For the past seven years there has been a whole lot of antisocial behaviour; murders, robberies, even one kidnapping. The most recent murder was Wednesday (last week). It's too much," said Orville McTaggart, the man who intends to lead the change within the community - a change he hopes will chart a course for a new dispensation in Sandy Bay.

"A lot of people are fearful because a lot of the pastimes are not happening. We usually have regular domino tournaments. There was a thing called Your Turn on Sunday nights; all of that has vanished because of the whole fear factor."

Qualifications

McTaggart is a 41-year-old accomplished educator and former football player. He is a trained teacher and is currently employed by the University College of the Caribbean as a marketing officer/adjunct lecturer. He holds an MSc degree in organisational leadership (Mercy College, NY), a BSc in marketing/ psychology (Mercy College, NY) and a postgraduate diploma in education administration (UWI, Mona). He is currently preparing to pursue a doctoral degree in education administration (leadership) commencing August 2010. As a sportsman, more specifically as a football player, he won titles while at Kingston College, Bull Bay Football Club, Desnoes & Geddes, New York, UWI Mona, UCC and Clarendon.

He is also the man behind Love, Education, Sports and Entertainment (LESE) Promotions which on October 31 will launch a drive to effect change on Sandy Bay. LESE, he said, is committed to taking a leadership role of reviving the spirit of love in Sandy Bay and its environs, and is dedicated to creating opportunities in education, sports and entertainment which can ultimately uplift the citizens and the community.

"What has caused LESE to be launching now is the death of two personal friends," he said.

Footballers killed

Those friends are Orandie 'Orrie' Walters and Renique 'Tica' Smith, two of Sandy Bay's most loved and promising young footballers, who were killed almost three years ago.

"That was the deciding moment for me. We can't lose no more of these good youths," he said.

Through several years of informal research, McTaggart has determined that several factors have contributed to this downward spiral in Sandy Bay, including the lack of education and poor leadership.

McTaggart and his team hope to stop the breakdown of the community by restoring hope and empowering the youths whom he feels have been abandoned by people his own age living in the community.