Getting youths involved in activities of discipline has been recommended as one of several ways to effect the change needed for youths of Long Look. Photo: VINO

Mr Avery B. Percival who was recently featured as a Young Professional of the Week, has issued a call for government to work from the bottom up in order to address the ills that plague the Long Look community. Photo: VINO

The Stickett is one of the symbols of the rich history of the Long Look community, but according to Mr Percival its true meaning and values are being hidden by the stigma that has stained the community. Photo: VINO

The recommendation came on the heels of a recent call by Mr Avery B. Percival for the investment of time and money in Long Look youths. According to Mr Gomes, the many sports that have discipline as the main base should be organized by the groups and one day should be set aside to showcase the youths during the 2014 Emancipation celebrations.

“This is not something that politics and the other distracting elements should come into play, that should be put aside and focus on the change that is necessary among the youth and how they can work towards achieving this,” he said.

According to Mr Gomes, the district representatives of East End and Long Look should play a part in assisting at some level in financing the start of such an initiative, “The police can piggy back on it to get closer to the people and become a friend rather than a monster. The festival committee here is a very well organized group and YEP is excellent in working with youth so we have the bases that can start that change but it just called for oneness and collaboration.”

Business persons, especially those who reside in the EE/LL area, should be approached also to play a role, Mr Gomes recommended. “You got Fine Foods, you got Bevis from Delta living in East End, you got Alphonso’s Gas Station and so many others that are supported by people from this community and the groups should not have to go asking them they should be coming forward or even having a representative on the committee,” said Mr Gomes.

It is recommended that as a significant day in the festival celebrations for 2014, being the 60^th Anniversary, a day of youth activities should be held at The Stickett. “Like the Minister (Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr the Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering) recommended, they can have a August 1 thing happening there and the youth thing can be on that same day, either before the opening or just after. The Minister and [Hon. Marlon A.] Penn can sponsor all the meals and refreshments for the entire day.”

The concerned man said that while he may not be around for much longer since he has traveling obligations to his job, he intends to at least get an audience with the chairperson of the EE/LL Festival Committee to share some ideas.

“Once they take the idea on, I will ensure to plug some cash in to assist and I would even get some of my friends to support them but they have to first set things in order and they will get the backing,” Mr Gomes said.

See previous article posted September 7, 2013

Invest time & money in Long Look youths - Avery B. Percival

“Long Look needs overhauling and it starts from the youths, that’s the truth and you can’t run away from that.” This was a strong expression from a young resident of the Long Look Community, Mr Avery B. Percival.

Mr Percival, who was recently featured in an exclusive interview with the Virgin Islands News Online, is calling on government and those responsible to carefully and quickly look and invest time and money in Long Look.

“Long Look is Long Look and it’s going to always be Long Look and unless you are from here it hard to understand what that means,” stated Mr Percival.

According to the young man, there is a stigma attached to the East End and Long Look communities. He further said the community’s image has been stained by the notion that anyone coming to Long Look faces a safety risk. “As of late you would know about the shootings and there is this thing now that if you come Long Look you are going to get shot, which I think is stupid,” Mr Percival said

“If I had the money I would change the entire area of where I grew up, Long Look, I would renovate the entire community.

Mr Percival considers himself a son of Long Look and nothing less and has spent all of his life in the community. He has developed a very deep passion to see it transform to what it was best known as in the days of old. “Long Look produced some of the best people in the history of the BVI, it holds the richest history in the making of the BVI and yet it’s is being left to stained and go to the reins.”

The concerned young man joined the call by many others in the community for a special investment of time, brains and monies to take the community back to its former glory- starting with the youths. He said that things will and cannot change for the better by starting from the top down. “It starts with the youth and you have to, in this case, start from the bottom up.”

“Too much BET and rap videos. I see dudes dressing as though they are in the hood in Chicago acting like they are from the hood. The BVI has no hood. Where is the hood? We are in paradise, the BVI is a paradise, people would die to be here," he further stated.

Mr Percival applauded Government for "the little that they have done" to beautify and bring alive the rich history of Long Look by refurbishing The Stickett but said that does not cut the chase. He said it goes way beyond and above highlighting historical sites in the community because it is of no meaning unless there is a way to get the message over to the youths of the community.

Mr Percival further said that while he is moving on to further his studies, he hopes to one day return and do his part to work with the youth in a way that the stain of being the ‘bad boy town’ would be replace with a more positive and appropriate image.

Currently, Mr Percival is in the USA furthering his studies. He has also committed himself to working with youth of Long Look as a second career.