Minister Outlines Plans for Youth Development

(ZIZ News) – Minister of Youth, the Hon. Shawn Richards says he is committed to developing programmes that will advance young people and address their issues.

During Wednesday’s edition of “Working for You” on ZIZ Radio, he said one of his goals is to hold a National Youth Forum, next year, to allow young people to express their needs and concerns.

“Apart from hearing the needs of young people; we want to ensure that our National Youth Policy isn’t just document sitting on paper but one that goes through the Parliamentary process and is made to guide the work of the Department of Youth Empowerment,” Minister Richards stated.

He said the country needs an active National Youth Council to work with government in developing youth programmes.

“Other countries can speak to the fact that they have an active National Youth Council but here in St. Kitts and Nevis, the Youth Council has been dormant for a number of years. So that Council must help to guide the work. That Council must say to government that the youth would want to see these particular programmes in place,” he added.

Minister Richards noted that while there is a draft National Youth Policy in existence it must be updated and combined with input from young persons to develop a relevant and practical document.