Four youth parliamentarians from St. Kitts participated in the 15th Regional Youth Parliament held in Trinidad earlier this month.
Mauriel Knight, Azuree Liburd, Kara Daley, Vikell Edwards-Douglas lent their voices to the motion debated, “Securing Our Borders to Mitigate the Effects of Crime Whilst Striving to Meet Our Humanitarian Obligations.”
Speaking from the government benches, Minister of Trade and Industry Azuree Liburd proposed that migrants and refugees provide a boost in the form of employable skills, dismissing the notion that they will place a strain on the economy.
As Minister of Housing and Urban Development Mauriel Knight proposed that compassion be given to migrants who may be fleeing oppression through the establishment of a housing programme.
Member of the opposition, Vikell Edwards-Douglas said there is a limit to how many people countries can responsibly absorb.
He proposed that strategies be put in place to strengthen border security and allow for protection of human rights.
Also speaking for the opposition, Kara Daley proposed that while immigration has been of significant importance in the region, the strengthening of borders is necessary.
The 15th Regional Youth Parliament was staged as part of the 44th Annual Conference of the Caribbean, Americas and Atlantic Region of The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association which was attended by speaker A. Michael Perkins and clerk of the National Assembly, Mrs. Sonia Boddie-Thompson.