25 Most Remarkable Teens highlight significant youth empowerment, says Minister Glen Phillip during Special Sitting of the National Assembly
(CUOPM) – The St. Kitts and Nevis National Assembly joined the proud parents and well wishers in celebrating the achievements of the 25 Most Remarkable Team for 2013 in the twin-island Federation.
Celebrating the accomplishments of the 15 females and 10 males, Minister of Youth Empowerment, the Hon. Glenn Phillip said the recognition of the 25 most remarkable youths of the federation is rooted in the principle of motivation and recognition.
“Our Government recognises the proactive roles you have undertaken and led in your chosen endeavours, without consideration of reward. We recognise that each of you has been imbued with gifts, talents and passions that you have used to make your circle of influence a better place. Tonight we meet to thank you and to raise your profiles to the nation as sterling and unblemished examples. You have excelled in sport, academics, business, technology, the arts and other fields and tonight your country celebrate you and all youth not only in words, but in concrete action as well,” Minister Phillips told a Special Sitting of the St. Kitts and Nevis National Assembly on Wednesday night, watched by their proud parents and thousands more on the live television broadcast.
Mr. Philip said the ceremony “highlights significance youth empowerment to the social, economic and human development agenda of our nation. It recognises tomorrow’s leaders today. Hosting this ceremony in the Parliament Chamber, the home of the highest level of decision-making legislative body of this country, is testament that we treat the youth and their concerns with the highest respect.”
“Accept my apologies on behalf of those honourable members of this House who chose not to be here with you tonight. I wished that we could have met with you tonight as a unified body so we can all share in this momentous occasion,” he said, adding:
“However, while this is not the reality, there is a nugget of wisdom which I want all of us to glean from this development. That lesson is, we owe it to our youth to provide nothing less than the unbroken, unwavering, unconditional love and support of every member of their family; of their community; of our society and this is without question. As parents, we need to raise our children to become accountable and enterprising and as community leaders, we must never abandon our nation’s children neither in principle nor in practice.”
He pointed out that it takes an entire community to raise a child, regardless of prevailing interpersonal or institutional differences at any point in time.
“It takes the teacher, the nurse, the bus driver, the coach, the shopkeeper, even the politician to set the right examples. For that reason, I would not choose to be any other place than in your esteemed company to celebrate the talents, the accomplishments and the virtues of 25 of our Most Remarkable Teens in St Kitts and Nevis. I choose to stand with the people of St. Kitts and Nevis and embrace the virtues that caused you to be nominated for this distinguished award. Let the memory of tonight be a lesson of empathy with others in their trials and celebration in their times of distinction,” said Minister Phillip.
He said the ceremony in the National Assembly “looks beyond idleness and salute enters prise. Tonight we look beyond acrimony and embrace our common destiny that is bound up within the promise of our youth. So tonight, let us all stand, united, as we salute and applaud the 2013 inductees to the distinguished society of the 25 of our Most Remarkable Teens in St Kitts and Nevis.”
“Mr. Speaker, ladies and gentlemen, I present these young men and women to you. They offer hope to our country as we seek to work together and build a better nation. It is therefore my honour and esteemed privilege to declare this evening’s proceedings officially open,” said the Hon. Glen Phillip.