The large gathering at the opening of the National Conference on Youth and Development, and the various panel discussions over a two-day period, this week, should have been of much encouragement to the many young people in attendance. The presence of the older folk was an indication that they were all sharing a passion for working with Anguilla’s teeming youth to understand their concerns and to meet their varied needs.
It is perhaps the first time in the history of Anguilla that so much interest was shown in youth development at a National Youth Conference. The fact that both the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, and UNICEF, have contributed 60,000 US dollars each towards the development of a comprehensive youth policy, underscores the significance and magnitude of the undertaking. As passing interest, it is noteworthy that, as part of its agenda for the young in our midst, the Government of Anguilla currently has three pieces of social legislation before the House of Assembly – aimed at protecting the island’s children. The draft laws are in themselves a way of looking at the social development of our young ones from early.
The fact that the Government and the Department of Youth and Culture are looking as far down the road as 2048, to chart a way forward for youth development, will be no mean feat. Such a policy will have to take into account the possible challenges and demands which will confront Anguilla by then – and this could be tricky. Yet it is not something to shy away from, but something we should attempt to address from now with plans for suitable amendments later on. Certainly, many of us will be centenarians or dead by 2048 and will not therefore be of any assistance to our young people. The aim should now be for our leaders to leave a legacy which will substantially benefit our coming generation.
It is a matter for commendation that successive Governments of Anguilla have embarked, over the years, on establishing a National Youth Council and Policy as an umbrella organization and guide for all young people groups on the island. It has fallen on the shoulders of the hard-working personnel at the Department of Youth and Culture, one of the most active but non-revenue raising agencies of the Government, to carry out the objectives. The Department has done, and is continuing to do, extremely well in all areas of its work – as well as youth employment and behavioural initiatives of its own – and deserves much congratulation.
The areas of the Department’s 2018 National Conference on Youth and Development have been both far-reaching and relevant. The various sessions have dealt with such topics as: Youth in Civil Society; Youth Empowerment and Participation; Youth in The Global Economy and Economic Development; Youth and Cultural Industries, Cultural Preservation and Development; Youth in the Global Economy, Education and Continuing Education; Youth and Wellbeing, Constitutional Change and Identity; Youth and Wellbeing, Social and Family Support Services; Youth and Wellbeing and Citizen Security; and Youth and Wellbeing, Health, Fitness & Physical Wellbeing. The selected panelists, who discussed among themselves a variety of related sub-topics during their sessions, have all been very knowledgeable persons of high repute, success, influence and leadership.
As stated earlier, the large attendance at the conference was a big encouragement to the young people in particular. This was picked up by Governor Foy who commented: “It is great to see the many people here …who show a passion for working with young people, and are really concerned about them.” That shared passion must spread across the length and breadth of Anguilla to give meaning and effect to any devised National Policy on Youth and Development.
