She made the comment during the forum “A Response”, hosted by the Community Worship Centre Church of God of Prophecy in Long Look, Tortola on March 12, 2023.

During the forum, Mrs Scatliffe-Leonard was asked what are some of her ideas to reduce or prevent activities such as smoking, vaping, and alcohol abuse among teens within the school district.

More activities for young people needed- Scatliffe-Leonard

She said, based on her experience in the District, she is involved with a lot of young people and has spoken with them about some of the issues affecting them.

“You’ll find that many of our boys especially, they’re left alone after school, and that’s because the parents depending on the jobs that they have. They don’t have a choice but to leave their kids home with an elder brother or sister or sometimes they are left alone.

“I believe that we need to find ways to build or create avenues in the district where we could bring the young men to activities within the District,” the Independent Candidate said.

She continued by referencing the Little League baseball team which she noted she had started years ago, as she posited that it helped to develop young men by teaching them core values.

'The boys are precious to me'

Mrs Scatliffe-Leonard said she wants to resuscitate a similar activity within the community.

“The boys are precious to me and it’s so heartbreaking that you cannot even take one or two of them and take them home because it’s just how it is …I want to do so much more and there’s so much you can do,” she noted.

Nevertheless, Mrs Scatliffe- Leonard said she has spoken with a coach in the United Kingdom (UK) for assistance.

“They have a system where we can actually send troubled teens to school and in those schools they get the education…mannerisms…the opportunity to play sports and that’s what we want to see. We want to see them growing up to successful young men and women,” she said.

Just recently, Mrs Scatliffe-Leonard had expressed concern over the escalation of gun violence in the Seventh and Eighth Districts, noting that it poses long-term consequences for future generations.