Today, a scouting delegation headed by Scouts District Commissioner for Sangre Grande/POS, Mr Ian McCarthy visited Chief Secretary Orville London, at the Administrative Complex. The group forms part of an 80-member Scout contingent from Sandre Grande/Toco, Trinidad, who are in Tobago for their annual Summer Camp.    Accompanying the group was Assistant District Commissioner of Boys Scouts – Tobago, Samuel Eastman.

With all courtesies observed, the Chief Secretary engaged the group in discussion centred on the development of the Scouting movement in Trinidad and Tobago, particularly among adults and teenagers.  

District Commissioner Ian McCarthy said that the camp is being used as a means of unifying the scouts in Trinidad with those in Tobago.

Mr London noted that this camp also gives the opportunity for Trinidad scouts and scouts from Tobago to network, as well as share experiences, which can inform on strategies for the development of the movement across the nation.

The Chief Secretary encouraged the scout leaders to greater examine challenges to recruitment of new scouts, aggressively market the movement and adopt a contemporary and innovative approach to delivering the virtues of scouting to scouts, as well as non-scouts. This, he said, could attract a greater teenager/adult recruitment and participation in Scouting.

He further commended the leaders of the Trinidad group, who were able to motivate twenty adults to be part of this camp experience in spite of the adult recruitment and participation challenge.

The campsites are at the Plymouth and Glen Road.

In 2011, this para-military group will be celebrating 100 years of scouting in this country.