“[Youth Week] is one week in the year when we focus our attention on our young people. We look at various aspects of youth development, in terms of ensuring that they are properly empowered to make decisions independently; empowered to affect their livelihood in terms of employment, scholarship opportunities, further training – whether in the vocational areas or more academic areas – and to be actively engaged in policy designed for them and by them.” So explained Director of Youth and Culture, Mr. Bren Romney, in an interview with The Anguillian newspaper.
The 2nd Annual National Youth Week is slated to begin in October. One of the major components is the launching of the Anguilla Youth Parliament. Having a National Youth Parliament was an initiative first identified in the 2003 National Youth Policy. Efforts in this area of youth empowerment were made by former Speaker of the Anguilla House of Assembly, Mrs. Barbara Webster-Bourne, and current Speaker Mr. Leroy Rogers. Mr. Rogers first explored the idea of a National Youth Parliament during his previous tenure as Speaker. The project was launched on September 24th 2014.
Youth and Culture Director Romney stated, “The Youth Policy that was implemented in 2003 by Government, prioritized the establishment of the Youth Parliament as a means of getting young persons involved in the governance process of the country”. He noted that after extensive research and consultations, the current model of the Youth Parliament was one that will be sustainable. The package that youth parliamentarians will receive after training, which is currently ongoing, includes a concept note, training manual, operations manual, and a rules and procedures manual. During National Youth Week, youth parliamentarians will be sworn-in, and there will be two sittings of their Parliament. Mr. Romney highlighted that it was hoped that funding for the Youth Parliament would be budgeted for by Government and that there would be continued support from the Anguilla Social Security Board which provided funds for the initial training of youth parliamentarians.
During this year’s National Youth Week, youths will also get a chance to discuss issues relating to climate change – and its impact on small states – at the National Youth Conference. “We want to get young people thinking about more sustainable development issues. If we say young people should be involved in the development of their country, they need to consider developmental challenges,” Mr. Romney stated.
The 1st Annual National Youth Week saw the launching of the radio programme ‘Youth Spin’. When asked about the success of the programme, Mr. Romney replied: “It is not for me to define the show for young people – they have to do that themselves…It is for the young people of Anguilla now to determine the nature of the show – what issues they focus on. Editorial decisions and managerial decision -making are made by young people.” He noted that the Department of Youth and Culture was just a sponsor of the weekly programme. Overall, the Director is satisfied with it: “In terms of how impactful it has been, that’s something we have to do going forward. That is something the Youth Spin team should do on their own,” he said.
Celebrating the nation’s youth on a grander scale will see the 2nd Annual National Youth Awards. While the process in being simplified for nominations, persons now have the entire month of September to get their nominations to the Awards Committee for consideration. “As a society we wait for the very last minute, but we have to give the Committee also enough time to assess [the nominations],” Romney Commented.
The closing of the 2nd Annual Youth Week will see a grand event at Sandy Ground beach: ‘Youth Splash’. Mr. Romney noted that there has been a revision of last year’s event. The aim now is to make it more family-oriented with beach sports and family activities which incorporate the island’s national sport. “We’re partnering with the Boat Racing Association. We are trying to do an exhibition race that will involve young people,” Romney disclosed.
In his final remarks, Mr. Romney appealed to the general public to support National Youth Week: “I think Youth Week is not just a Department of [Youth] affair, or a National Youth Council or Youth Ambassadors thing. It’s an Anguillian thing, and we want the Anguillian community to see it as an Anguillan thing,” he added.
– Hackeem Alves
