Youth must lead the way

Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth Stephen Lashley has encouraged young people to use their voices to help chart the way forward for this country.

 

His encouragement came during his feature address at the Youth Development Programme of the Sports Ministry’s second-ever National Youth Consultation, which was held yesterday as part of National Youth Week at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre.

 

With the event running through the day and providing young persons and stakeholders with a forum for discussion, Lashley reiterated the need for settings the like of yesterday’s to help shed light on issues faced by young people. 

 

“Consultation is important. When we read the newspapers, you get the impression that our young people are voiceless – that they are people not to be seen, but to be reported on.  Therefore, we have always felt that there must be a place for you to feel welcome and feel that you have a voice,” he said. 

 

"The National Consultation on Society was therefore an opportunity to place within the context of the national focus, an opportunity for young people to speak.” 

 

Urging the youngsters to make the most of the platform, Minister Lashley said that he once was where they are now.

 

“Often at events like these there is a popular chorus which laments the type of youth involvement that one should have. When I was younger, I had some of the same views that you have. I had a view that said that there must not be just talking or complaining – that being vocal was not enough. I had a view that said that I needed to see action based on the concerns that have been raised. I also had a view that I had to be part of the solution and that’s the nature of our democracy today – in that we have to be part of the solution, we have to drive that solution, we have to own the problem. And I dare say that our young leaders are appear to be very driven and having identified the problem, they want to be part of the solution.”

 

Noting that there was a need for solutions that were driven by inclusivity and that engaged and enabled the youth to participate in the formulation of policies and programmes toward the development of the nation, Lashley stated that there were a total of nine interrelated issues of major significance that were identified by young people and on the table for discussion. Highlighting unemployment, education, core values and gangs as some of the most pressing ones, the minister assured those on hand that they would come into direct focus because his ministry was well aware of the negative impacts these had on the island’s young people.

 

Drawing attention to the recent spate of gun-related activity, Minister Lashley said that plans were afoot to cushion the blow to our youth.

 

“Recently Barbados has been grappling with some issues that primarily affect our youth. Gun-related violence and child abuse, if left unchecked, threaten the very fabric of our society. It is sad that gun violence is a crime perpetrated mainly by some of our misguided youth and that in the case of child abuse, the youth are the victims. We therefore have youth on both ends of the spectrum. This state of affairs is receiving the Government’s attention and this consultation will help to inform the Ministry’s response to these critical issues. It is our strong belief that the youth have to be part of the process as we seek to address these major concerns.”

 (MP)