"You are the ones that should lead the way .....and you are the ones who should stand up and say enough is enough when our children are exploited", Fullerton told supporters of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) during a public meeting in Gouyave.

The M.P chided the Keith Mitchell-led New National Party (NNP) Government for displaying a lack of concern to the nation's schools and education even before and after the passage of hurricane Ivan on September 7.

"The time has also come for our students to stand firm and say that we need proper facilities so that our education and future can be guaranteed", he said. The Congress party has been calling on the Mitchell government to devote more resources to the rebuilding of schools that were battered by the hurricane.

Fullerton told party supporters that when schools are not repaired, and there are inadequacies in the school feeding programme, demands should be made of the Government to address these problems in a critical manner.

He said he believes that housing and schools should be given top priority by government in the rebuilding process. The NDC executive member urged the administration to address the problem of truancy in the society since it is now a very complicated issue.

According to Fullerton, the reality of the situation is that young people who are supposed to be in school are now involved in active employment because of the rebuilding process taking place in the country.

He suggested that the issue must be addressed in a timely fashion by all concerned parties. "All young people in this country must be in school and must learn because that will shape their future and the future of our country. That is the human resource that we need to develop if we really want to advance as a people", he added.

Fullerton accused the NNP leaders of being blind, having no vision and behaving like "captains without any ship".