Basseterre, St. Kitts (SKNIS) — St. Kitts and Nevis’ CARICOM Youth Ambassadors (CYA) have called for a fresh approach to be taken in the engagement of the nation’s youth population.
In an address to mark Caribbean Youth Day on Wednesday (September 30th) alternate CYA Trevis Belle quoted the theme: “Refocus, Reinvest, Reinforce. Youth Integration for a Stronger and Sustainable Caribbean” and made an appeal to the federation’s leaders, persons in society and his peers.
“It is time for our country to refocus its attention on the issues that really matter, on the generation that will lead St. Kitts and Nevis into the future,” he said, noting that every development agenda should be sustainable and prosperous with emphasis on young people.
A refocusing on the perception of youth as “the ungrateful generation, the committers of crime and the wayward young people” was mentioned as well as greater appreciation for the innovative and creative potential most young people embody.
Mr. Belle also appealed for more strategic investment in programmes and opportunities that will strengthen the youth population’s capacity and power to enact real growth and development.
“It is time for St. Kitts and Nevis to reinvest its trust in our ability to unleash positive change in our communities and our country,” Belle said.
He added: “we applaud our nation on the enormous progress that has been made. The huge steps that have been taken to provide a platform for the youth voice. We applaud our leaders who have set aside their differences to unite for the cause of our nation’s youth. We applaud the educators who are the real heroes of our country. We applaud our fellow young people who are quietly and not so quietly engaged in youth involvement and activism across the many villages and communities that make up our nation.”
The message by the local CARICOM Youth Ambassadors was also shared with students at various schools visited by members of the team. It is also expected to resonate at the Caribbean Youth Development Conference currently being held in Jamaica. The September 30th to October 2nd meeting is attended by St. Kitts and Nevis’ Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Youth, Honourable Shawn Richards, along with CYA alternate Belle.