If you want to know more about the discovery of oil in Belize, and its implications for the economy, then a forum tomorrow night at the Parish Hall might interest you. Saint John's Junior College has invited a panel of eminent discussants to answer the question: "is oil black gold or fool's gold?" Comprising the panel are 5 speakers, including Belize Natural Energy's new CEO Gilly Canton, conflict specialist Rufus X, and Chief Environment Officer Martin Allegria. It's organized not by SJC's administration, but by the student council, and today President Adrian Torres told us that his generation must get into the oil conversation.
Adrian Torres, Student Council President
"Well I think the general perception in society is that with the oil industry, an industry which is very important, that it should be left to adults and to working force but this is an attempt to refute that perception and to show that the students are in fact investors of this country and in resources of this country and it is an attempt to make sure that our investments, that we are informed of our investments and that they are handled properly and ethically."
Jules Vasquez,
The issue that you all are going to be presented at this forum is it an idealistic platform which will automatically repulse adults who live in a real world where there is no time and money for idealism?
Adrian Torres,
"At the end of the day, adults and children, I think we all live in the same world and I don't think it is right to denounce the ideas that us, the young generation has."
Yasmine Andrews,
"I think that the students, and they themselves will claim to this, they are the future investors in this country and it has come to point in time where the students and our young people are looking at the importance of them becoming involved and making their statement known to the government, any government in power, that they have a huge voice in this country. In fact over fifty percent of our people are young people in the voting population."
The event runs from 7 to 10pm tomorrow night at the Holy Redeemer Parish Hall.
