A 16-year-old schoolboy from a tough inner-city community in Spanish Town, St Catherine, has emerged winner of this year's Shortwood Branch Library Essay Competition.

Jerome Burke of Calabar High School topped this year's competition with his piece titled, 'Racial discrimination can be seen as an obstacle to any country's national development'.

Burke spent his early years in Waterhouse, St Andrew, before moving to Corletts Road in Spanish Town, where he now resides.

Spoke haltingly of violence

Articulate but soft-spoken, Burke's voice became halting as he spoke of the violence that has affected his community over the years and his desire to be a role model for the other youngsters in the area.

"You see young people die so often because of the violence and sometimes it is over stupidness," Burke declared with a hint of anger in his voice.

He was speaking at the prize-giving ceremony held at the library in St Andrew yesterday.

He added: "The youths adopt it so easily because it is right before them and there is nothing else that they are exposed to."

Burke wants to see more social programmes in his community, particularly projects that offer opportunities for young people who are out of school with nothing to do but stand on street corners.

Determined to make difference

According to Burke, he is determined to make a difference and has already identified eight subjects which he intends to do very well in during next year's external examinations. In fact, he will be sitting English and principles of business this year while in fourth form.

That is part of a plan for a career in politics and his teacher, Michelle Archer, would not be surprised if he achieves this or any other goal.

For his effort Burke received the first prize of $30,000, a gift basket and a trophy.