Toshalae Smith is the President of CedarBridge Academy's new Student Government Association following last week's elections. Vice President is Kiera Smith.

The election was organised by teachers-in-charge Mr. TarikBean and Mrs. Robin Mason to follow the pattern of Bermuda general elections, allowing students to practise exercising their democratic right by choosing fellow students for positions of influence.

Each year level was encouraged to vote on a specific day. S1 students voted on October 13th, S2 students voted on October 14th, and S3 and S4 students voted on October 15th.

Polling stations were set up so that each student would experience the process of voting, presenting themselves with ID to scrutineers before proceeding to the polling booth to complete their ballot.

A total of 22 candidates ran for seven positions including President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary and Historian/Journalist; there were also six representatives to be chosen for each year group.

The CBA Student Government Association meets monthly to bring forward and discuss issues of concern to students.

Current issues include the cost of cafeteria food and the number of grub days held at the school.

Another issue of concern is the need to raise funds to cover the cost of school books that in the past were provided free of charge.

One of the candidates for the position of President, Senior 4 student Kiara Richardson, explained that the members of the Association voice student opinion and can influence change, though all decisions must have the final approval of Principal Kalmar Richards.

The members of the Association also act as role models for their fellow students.

This latter is an issue, however, that may discourage more of the male students from presenting themselves as candidates.

Most of this year's candidates were female, and invited to offer an explanation, presidential candidate Kiara Richardson opined: "Males aren't as into politics as females.

"They're concerned that their friends will think they're weird running for student government."

She elaborated: "Males in this school feel they need to be popular, and they won't be popular if they run for student government. Females think it's OK to be a role model, but males don't."

PRESIDENT

Toshalae Smith

VICE PRESIDENT

Keira Smith

TREASURER

Briana Boyd

SECRETARY

Angelita Trott

HISTORIAN

DeAzha Chambers

ASSISTANT SECRETARY/TREASURER

Tatyana Butterfield

ASSISTANT HISTORIAN/JOURNALIST

Stacey-Lee Smith

S4 YEAR –REPRESENTATIVES

Jahnae Harvey – Year leader

Shuntelle Paynter

Simiah Caisey

Cherina Darrell

Kavone Hodsoll-Omara

Shermanique Washington

Shaquille Codrington

THIRD YEAR –REPRESENTATIVES

Danea Tucker – Year Leader

Dunte Albuoy

Garanae Burch

Precious Smith

Che Bowen

Sarah-Ann Robinson

S2 YEAR –REPRESENTATIVES

Taiva Paynter – Year Leader

Kayla Ingemann

Jahchey Tyrell

Sashe Robinson

Fernando Brown

Tia Daley

S1 YEAR –REPRESENTATIVES

Niambia Russell – Year Leader

Dale Eve

Marcus H. Bean

Shackeil Burrows

Kevin Pacheco

Ricai Paynter