This week, Tuesday and Wednesday, October 2 – 3, saw what may have been the opening of the biggest National Youth Conference in Anguilla. It had as its theme: “Vision 2048: Charting The Way Forward For Youth Development” – perhaps the longest period ever set towards that end.
The National Conference on Youth and Development, held at La Vue Hotel, attracted a large gathering of public and private sector persons – including many young people from schools and various church and community organizations; the National Youth Council; the National Youth Ambassador Corps and the Caricom Ambassador Corps. The opening ceremony was chaired by Mr. Neil Gumbs, President of the National Youth Conference, a graduate of the University of the West Indies and a history teacher in his native Anguilla.
Director of Youth and Culture, Mr. Bren Romney, whose Department organized the event as part of National Youth Week, was grateful to the Commonwealth Youth Secretariat, and the UNICEF, for each providing 60 thousand US dollars towards the development of a new youth policy for Anguilla.
He said that over a 3-6 month period members of the National Youth Ambassador Corps and the National Youth Council would travel throughout Anguilla to ascertain the views of young people on a new youth policy for the island. He noted that he and Mr. Ivor Hodge were involved in the development of the original youth policy 30 years ago. He called on those persons mentioned above to put together a youth policy, for the next generation of young Anguillians, that would be fit for purpose and based on best practice.
“I am going to challenge each of you to be part of that movement,” he told those appointed to work on the new youth policy. “You are hand selected, by the Department of Youth and Culture and the Anguilla National Youth Council and our partners, because we believe you bring something unique to the table and you can add value to the process.”
Governor Tim Foy advised the persons who have responsibility for developing the new youth policy that they might wish to draw on the experiences of others – as well as the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Caricom Secretariat. “We share many of the same issues and problems, so let us draw together on those – but let the policy be uniquely Anguillian.”
The Governor commended the Department of Youth and Culture for organizing a comprehensive programme for Youth Week and the National Conference. He also congratulated the Governments of Anguilla for their consistency, over the years, in the development of a youth policy.
Chief Minister, Mr. Victor Banks, commented that 2018 was a good year for youth development – taking into account that a number of Anguillian athletes had made their mark both regionally and internationally. He stressed that with focus and discipline young people could override any obstacle confronting them, and he pointed to the need for honesty, integrity and respect in the pursuit of youth development. He hoped that the deliberations at the National Youth Conference “would benefit from the sound values that served our forebears very well during our rugged past.”
Mrs. Hyacinth Bradley, Community Services Planner, joined in thanking the international and local partners for supporting the National Conference on Youth and Development.
Among the officials who sat at the head table, during the opening ceremony of the conference, was Mr. Richard Berwick, the Regional Youth Development Specialist with Caricom who participated in the panel discussions.
