DLP launches Youth Effecting Solutions forum

THE Democratic Labour Party (DLP) has launched a Youth Effecting Solutions (YES) forum to involve the young people of the nation in the process of solving some of the country’s problems.

According to the DLP’s General Secretary, George Pilgrim, YES – spearheaded by Vice President of the Young Democrats, Quincy Jones – will represent a new online platform movement, which will be focused on collecting ideas from across a spectrum of sectors.

“Our future is seated here today as we gather to share in our experiences. We can’t escape talking to our youth about solutions. That’s why the design of our engagement is about you telling us all the things you see wrong within society by narrowing our discussions to the topics presented, while in the evening session we will seek to give birth to solutions of all the problems you would have discussed in the morning,” Pilgrim said, as he delivered brief remarks during the opening ceremony of a retreat for the youth, held at the Ellerslie Secondary School, Black Rock, St. Michael, yesterday.

Pilgrim said the initiative is defined by a number of things. Principally among them is the idea of awarding the youth throughout the country with the Prestigious Trident award.

The Trident Award is bestowed by Prime Minister Freundel Stuart on a talented young person. The award is granted to one young person from each of the 30 constituencies, seeking to promote what is good and worthy.

Pilgrim told the young people that their school life will pass them once and should not be wasted, but enjoyed with boundaries.

“Our people here often complain about life in school. I remember studying in Jamaica and found myself on the road at 5 a.m. in the morning and seeing droves of school children hustling to school, only to discover that in Jamaica students went to school in shifts.

“In other words, some went to school in the morning, then left to make room for the others coming in the evening. That does not occur here in Barbados. We have something we must value and protect. This is why we are here,” Pilgrim said.

The DLP is seeking to engage the youth on some of the issues facing Barbados’ landscape, including violence in schools, crime, Bajan culture, dance hall culture, ZR culture, social media, misuse of the Computer Act, education, sports, transportation and jobs.

“One of the problems we often encounter is the idea of policymakers seeking to plan on behalf of the youth, and we are hoping by your participation at the retreat we can begin to build a platform of ideas that will help to shape policy,” he said.

The Young Democrats treated 100 young people to a reception at Almond Bay, last Friday evening. (AH)