JAMAICA NEEDS fresh political leadership and a firm commitment to education for all, if it is to grasp its opportunities and bring prosperity to its people.

That's the general view of six young people who participated in The Gleaner's Youth Forum last week at the newspaper's North Street offices, central Kingston. The four young men and two young women, who are between the ages of 18 and 22, had a frank discussion with senior reporters about their perception of the country's politics.

"I consider the leadership of this country old and decaying. We need to have more youth and not these old men. What they could do is just be in the background and guide us, let us lead, let us make the decisions. There are certain things that would have made Jamaica better but because they are old they do not want to take the risk, the chance, and because we are young and we are risk-takers we will be better able to take certain risks to make the country better," said Ogan-Nickhu Henry, a student at Mico Teachers' College.

The participants held that view firmly. They conceded that the current leaders of the country had served well but urged them to relinquish their grip on political power, clearing the way for more young people to enter the political sphere.

There has been ongoing public debate about the age of the country's two top political leaders and whether they were fit to carry on their duties.

At 68 years old, Prime Minister P.J. Patterson has publicly stated that this will be his last election campaign. However, Opposition Leader Edward Seaga at 72, has not set a timetable for his departure.

"They have done well in the past. They have done well, they have contributed. Whether they are contributing now is a question that is very much debatable, and in terms of whether or not they have the capacity to continue to contribute, is another question again. I think that at this stage we probably need somebody with more energy and more innovation, working with the guidance of the experienced leaders," added Taayoo Murray of the University of Technology (UTech).

The young people were at one also, in insisting that education needs to be given priority in the country's development. Jean Binns, of UTech, suggested that education was not only important because of its utility in helping young people to get employment but was also a means for curbing the anti-social behaviour that has spread throughout the society.

She was supported by Jalvin McCalla, a student of Mico Teachers' College. He argued that the political leadership needed to put the primary focus on education, especially for young people, if the country was to climb out of the current economic rut.

"The priority should be placed on opportunities ­ education and advancement opportunities for the youth. That's the main thing," he said.