The Department of Youth and Culture in Anguilla observed its 7th Annual National Youth Week held from September 26th through October 2nd, 2021. One of the features was the 14th Youth Conference which was held at the Teachers’ Resource Centre on Monday September 27th and Tuesday September 28th.
The theme for the Conference was Economic Diversification and Food Security: Optimising Anguilla’s Green and Blue Economy”. The first day of the conference dealt with the official launch of a National Youth Policy.
In opening the conference, the Chief Education Officer, Mr. Bren Romney, who was a Former Director of the Department of Youth and Culture recognised the Minster of Youth Affairs, the Hon. Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers as well as the Permanent Secretary of Social Development, Mrs. Bonnie Richardson-Lake. He congratulated the Department of Youth and Culture on its 14th Youth Conference, and welcomed the audience of youth, present physically virtually.
Mr. Romney quoted from the Commonwealth Secretariat on the significance of a National Youth Policy which states: ‘“A National Youth Policy is an acknowledgement of the specific needs of young women and men as well as a formal recognition of their unique contribution to national development. It provides a means for society, as a whole, to declare, document and intensify its commitment to young citizens and an opportunity to determine appropriate priorities, goals and strategies. A youth policy provides an opportunity to give expression to a nation’s understanding of the values, rights, and responsibilities as regards to the young women and men. As a document of national and historical significance, a National Youth Policy with its associated action plans and programmes will raise the profile and understanding of the wider community about young women and men with the potentials and the constraints that they face…”
He then introduced the first facilitator of the conference, International Youth Development Specialist and Youth Consultant, Dr. Henry W. Charles of St. Lucia, who addressed the audience via video feed:
Mr. Charles highlighted the fact that the Anguillian Youth Council had made a mark in the affairs of youth and made Anguilla proud. He thought that it also made noteworthy contributions to youth development within the Caribbean in previous years. He took the opportunity to recognise the Hon. Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers, and referred to her as the youngest Minister in Government in the Caribbean.
In line with the launch of the new Youth Policy, Mr. Charles said: “The whole journey of youth development, since the first International Year of the Youth in 1985, there has been an emphasis on youth participation. The theme for that year, was Youth Participation, Peace and Progress. Up to 1995, there were various initiatives to emphasise the concept of youth participation.
“While many of our countries theoretically subscribed to this whole concept of youth participation, at the local level the practices that existed were not necessarily reflective of participation. So the conversation continued until we started to focus on active youth participation which spoke to young people being involved from the stage of conceptualisation to the realisation of youth developmental plans and programmes.”
Mr. Charles stressed the fact that young people were to be regarded a co-creators of national development, and that he considered the formation of a National Youth Policy for Anguilla as one of best practices.
Mr. Bren Romney expressed his heartfelt thanks to Mr. Charles for a comprehensive overview of the National Youth Policy for Anguilla. He said that he was also pleased to declare that the Government of Anguilla had indeed approved the National Youth Policy, therefore it was now an official national document.
