Scores of young people from Anguilla and other islands, as well as a number of other residents and officials crowded the main conference room of La Vue Boutique Hotel on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 27 and 28 respectively.
The event was the 10th Annual Youth and Development National Conference under the theme: “Agenda 2030: Framing Caribbean Youth Development – From Rhetoric To Action.”
The conference was organised by the Department of Youth and Culture in Anguilla with support from the Ministry as well as with the involvement of the OECS and Digicel.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth and Culture, Mrs. Chanelle Petty-Barrett, said in part: “This generation of young people is the largest in history. Over three billion people, nearly half of the world’s population, are under the age of 25. Almost 90% of all young people live in developing countries. In the Caribbean, in particular, according to an ILO report, two-thirds of the population is under the age of 30 and in Anguilla youth between the ages of 13 and 30 represent more than half of the population.
“This youthful profile of the Caribbean presents opportunities and challenges as the important role that young people play in national and regional economic development becomes increasingly apparent. Because youth make up such a significant figure, every issue is a youth issue. Youth involvement matters. It is in recognition of this that the Department of Youth and Culture has adopted an asset-based approach to youth development. This approach acknowledges that young people are a valuable asset to their countries and investment in them brings tremendous social and economic benefits. Young people are not a problem to be fixed. In fact, through empowerment and engagement they must be a part of the solution to the challenges we encounter.
“The conference theme, Agenda 2030; Framing Caribbean Youth Development – From Rhetoric to Action is a call to action. It is about young people creating for themselves and other young people in the Caribbean, the environment that would enable them to strive as global citizens. For the rest of us, it is a call to create avenues for the holistic development of all young people regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, class, abilities, religious persuasion and indeed sexual orientation thereby making them to effectively influence, shape and contribute to the development of policies, programmes and policies throughout their communities, the region and our world. In other words, we have to create and support the enabling conditions under which young people act on their own behalf.
“Research indicates that four of these conditions include economic security, adequate resource allocation and legal institutions, equality peace and democracy as well as access to knowledge, information and skills. Conference participants, this is your opportunity to influence and defy the landscape of Caribbean youth development. Use it wisely. Your participation will help to ensure that our region is a place in which young people feel valued, supported, heard, and empowered to fulfil their goals.”
Earlier, Digicel’s CEO in Anguilla, Mr.Niall Murphy, expressed appreciation that his company was involved in the event and said it was the second time Digicel had shared in the promotion of young people. The first time was the computer lab at the Vivien Vanterpool Primary School.
The feature address was delivered by video link by Dr.Diadacus Jules, Director General of the OECS. He spoke at length on various future matters involving and confronting Caribbean young people going into the year 2030.
The Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Petty-Barrett, expressed appreciation to him for his address. She presented a piece of Anguilla Rock, in the form of a plaque, to Ms. Loverly Anthony, the OECS representative, to deliver to him.
The opening ceremony was chaired by Ms. Natalie Richardson, 1st Runner Up, Miss Anguilla.
