Today Newspaper St. Maarten

Young St. Maartener looking for air time

St. Maarten – At age 23, Ishmael Hodge, who was fortunate to get a secondary education at the Milton Peters College is now working as a trainee at the Parliament Building. But he is very much concerned about those that have no jobs.

Now he is looking for avenues where kids from the different communities can air their views on a special radio program, something he would like to do every day. The call in program will allow interested persons to air their views on a cross section of topics including education, jobs, crime and drugs, just to name a few.

“This is my way of getting the youths involved in something positive and speak what is on their minds with the hope something positive will come out of it. I also hope that it will change their negative mentality,” Hodge said.

But financial assistance from the private sector and the general public is standing in the way of a dream and the air time which would have to be paid for. As the sole pioneer of the venture, Hodge has already organized a fun raising event at the Soggy Dollar Bar, where a number of local DJ’s will be showcasing their skills.

According to Hodge, the fact that there are not enough jobs in the labor force is causing the crime rate to be so high.

“Some of them tried to get jobs, but got no help. Some of them even went to the government,” Hodge pointed out.

Hodge plans to invite members of the public sector including police officers, firemen, members of the business community and anybody that will be able to assist the youths that are in need of a job on his radio program.

His message to those that are out of a job and those that are still looking for a job is ‘get off the block. This is not the time to waste.’ But to get their undivided attention, he will need lots of help.