“Caribbean youth dream of being the best that they can be, but their dreams and aspirations, under the influence of family, friends and the communications media as well as their own knowledge and perceptions of the opportunities, rights and privileges available in developed countries, are oriented outside the Region.  Some, in particular older youth, are afraid to dream because of the pain and frustration that comes from their social and economic reality and the acceptance of the fact that their dreamed cannot be realized.” – Report of CARICOM Commission on Youth Development.  

History was made last week (25^th-31^st January, 2010), as the first Heads of Government Meeting with CARICOM Youth Ambassadors and National Youth Council Presidents from nearly all Caribbean countries, was held in Paramaribo, Suriname.  The core focus of the meeting was to highlight the findings of the CARICOM Commissions report, which illuminated the major concerns and extensive challenges Caribbean youth face i.e high school dropout rates, teenage pregnancy, limited job access and much more.  In addition, the meeting provided the various youth representatives the opportunity to inform the Heads of Government of the great discontent for the outdated educational systems, unfriendly youth departments ruled by politics and bureaucracy and the lack of partnership with young people.   

The week began with several events that enabled the delegates to participate and exchange ideas of youth development for the region. However, one of the man focus of the week was the presentation of the “Report of the CARICOM Commission on Youth Development (CCYD)”. Members of the CCYD included youth from all over the region from countries such as Trinidad, Suriname, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and others. The Commission is co-chaired by Ms. Yldiz Beighle , former CARICOM Youth Ambassador of Suriname and Dr. Alston Barrington Chevannes, Professor Emeritus at the University of the West Indies. The CCYD was established at the 27^th CARICOM Conference of Heads of Government, which was issued a mandate to undertake ‘a full scale analysis of the challenges and opportunities for youth in the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME); and make recommendations to improve their well-being and empowerment’.  

The report included information that was much alarming that needed immediate action by CARICOM Heads of Government. Within the report, statistics were given on the Cost of Early School-Leaving at 2004, the Cost of Adolescent Pregnancy, the Cost of Youth Unemployment and much more.  

Members of the Commission, led by its co-chairs was given the opportunity, to present their report at a Special Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) on Youth Development. This Council Chaired by the Hon. Patrick Simmons, Minister of Youth Empowerment, Culture and Sports for Grenada. The report provided an analysis of the opportunities and challenges of youth in the context of the global and regional environment.¹ Throughout this meeting (which included substantial discussions) led to various recommendations to the Council. Some of these recommendations included but not limited to:-  

• Efforts to be made to engage the private sector, labour unions, universities and other relevant stakeholders in the discussions on, and implementation of relevant aspects of the Report that would contribute to facilitating the empowerment of Youth;
• Timelines should be set for the implementation of the recommendations of the Report and efforts made to ensure synergy with the regional strategy for Youth development;
• Political-will could be demonstrated, by inter alia, Minister engaging in constant dialogue with youth organizations to advance youth issues. Where necessary, youth should be helped on a one-on-one basis.
• Youth Directors should be specialists who are recruited and function in accordance with civil service rules and youth departments should not be politicized.

The COHSOD endorsed the recommendations contained in the report of the commission and agreed that the goals set out in the report should be further elaborated. However, there were many recommendations that the Council issued. However, a few included:-  

• Presentations of the Commission’s Report be made to Regional cabinets and that the help of Ministers of Youth would be needed in this regard;
• Ministers, Directors of Youth, Youth Leaders and other stakeholders engage in talk shows and other methods of promotion of the Report.

The Council finally urged that the Ministers should engage and listen to their youth constituencies and act on their recommendations from the report.  

Nonetheless, one of the true purposes of the Summit was to give the youth delegates, the opportunity to sit and engage in an ongoing dialogue with the Heads of Government on their views of youth empowerment throughout the region. Unfortunately, the youth representatives were not pleased when only four heads including the Prime Ministers of St. Lucia, Dominica, and the Presidents of Suriname and Guyana were the only state leaders present. While some had lent reasons for their absence and sent Ministers in their place, The Bahamas regrettably had not a single government representative present. However, CARICOM Youth Ambassador (CYA) Sacha Armbrister and Bahamas National Youth Council (BNYC) President Tyson McKenzie took full pride in speaking on behalf of the youth of The Bahamas. They allowed it to be known that young people living within the Bahamas share the plight of youth within their countries and to also urge that governments of the region must move towards immediate action before the dreams and aspiration of youth around the region fall apart.  

Nonetheless, a demonstration was still made by the youth delegates to express their disappointment with the lack of attendance by a nine minute pause led by the CARICOM Youth Ambassadors (CYAs) which was followed by National Youth Council Presidents and other youth delegates, in the official opening of the Summit. They all stood up for nine minutes to signify the nine heads of government that were absent from the Summit.  

Moreover, this disappointment was further reiterated within the document issued by the youth delegates present. The document that was entitled “Declaration: Towards Greater Involvement of CARICOM Heads of Government in the development of Youth in the Caribbean Community”, declared a profound sense of disappointment in the non-attendance of the majority of the Heads of Government, an alarm and regret at the unequivocal signal that this has sent to nine million young people in the region and the resentment of this demoralizing blow to the hopes, aspirations and dreams of the youth of the Caribbean Community.  

Despite this occurrence, CYA Sacha Armbrister and BNYC President Tyson McKenzie, made it a point to ensure that their country was well represented at the table of the Heads of Government. Despite all the complaints and venting that occurred, the Bahamian representatives shared possible solutions to the common problems that other young persons in other Caribbean Countries shared. Some of these solutions include:-  

• Proper representation of youth on all government appointed committees
• Support of all governments to NYCs within their respective countries (in which Prime Ministers and Ministers of Youth Affairs have already agreed to support)
• Continued collaboration with NYCs and Ministries of Government on events that can produce better solutions from youth. An example of this was given by CYA Armbrister on how the BNYC works with the Ministry of National Security for the Youth Against Crime Annual Forum.

Nevertheless,  the meeting still proved extremely productive with other various recommendations being made such as including young people in the revamping of the educational system by including more of the history of the Caribbean Region and CARICOM, more focus on technical and vocational training such as Agriculture and Information Technology, mandating the need for National Youth Council within every country and  allowing a level of transparency to enable youth to assist in directing the proper management of funds for youth programs.   

Under the theme, ‘Eye on the Future – Investing in Youth NOW for Tomorrow’s Community’, the CARICOM Youth Summit produced many positive outcomes and prospective for youth present. Heads of Governments that were present pledged their support to work with the CYAs and National Youth Councils to execute the recommendations that were presented in the report. Despite its length and details, each Prime Minister present, dedicated themselves to personally read the report and see how their governments can adhere to the practical recommendations made by the CCYD.  

With all this in mind, and lack of attendance of the Bahamian Government at this very important regional meeting, it leads one to mention, where do we as young people within the Commonwealth of the Bahamas fall one the priority agenda of the government and politicians of the day. How much longer will we as young people be placed on the political agenda as simply tokens for publicity stunts to get our votes and then be forgotten shortly after? The youth of the Bahamas stand with young people from around the region when we say ‘enough is enough’ and more must be done for youth empowerment and development. The government must support the National Youth Councils, all youth ambassadors and other youth organizations and must empower them. In order for this country to move forward, we must invest in the youth of today.