The voices of youth leaders from across the region took precedence on UN Day 2020, in commemoration of the United Nations 75th anniversary, as UN Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean partnered with the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission to host a virtual youth day entitled “Youth Voices Rising”.
As part of the UN75 global campaign, launched in January by the United Nations Secretary General, this youth day aimed to further amplify the voices of youth while highlighting how the UN can support Governments to build a better future for all.
Welcome Remarks to kick off the session were delivered by UN Resident Coordinator, Didier Trebucq, while Director General of the OECS, Dr. Didacus Jules and Hon. Roosevelt Skeritt, Chair of OECS delivered Opening Remarks. Commending the theme of the event, while delivering Opening Remarks on behalf of her counterparts, Caribbean Regional Youth Council Chairperson, Roshanna Trim, explained it emphasized the need for young people to be “invaluable partners in creating an equitable world.”
Pierre Cooke Jr, Leader of Government Business, Barbados National Youth Parliament, moderated the three-hour event which highlighted youth voices through song, spoken word and intergenerational dialogues.
Music from Barbadian Leigh Phillips and Saint Lucian Deshawn Augustin along with spoken word pieces from Barbadian Akeem-Chandler- Prescod and Vincentian Janielle Brown added an artistic touch to the day. But the highlight of the day, were three inter-generational dialogues that created a platform for youth across the region to share their insights on innovation, climate action and the role of youth as equal developmental partners.
Crafting Innovative 21st Century Solutions in a Post Pandemic World
In speaking to creating innovative solutions, Moderator Chad Monerville, Founder of Youth Speaks Barbados, said youth must be central to and empowered in the process.
Speaking from experience, Barbadian entrepreneur and Co-founder of Aceleron, Carlton Cummins, noted that today, younger people have the advantage of not being tied to one field and have the opportunity to see the world as a blank space and grasp it. However, Canice James, a social entrepreneur from Antigua and Barbuda advised youth going into innovative fields that partnerships were critical from inception, as well as continuous learning and marketing.
Mary Wilfred, Director of Youth in the Ministry of Youth Development in Saint Lucia, believes that education can be the supporting mechanism for innovators like Canice and Carlton to influence curriculum with their experience, successes and failures.
Barbadian research scientist, Kerri-Ann Bovell, credited education as her best means of support in her journey as an innovator but underscored the need for more monetary support. Bringing a creative perspective to the discussion, Desi Brown, Cultural Enterprise Entrepreneur from St. Kitts and Nevis, stated that the potential in the region is largely untapped and “if one wants to change lives and make a living, the answer is a non-traditional field”.
Increasing the Significance of the Youth voice in Climate Action thrust
To kick off the panel, moderator Alison Kentish, Dominican journalist, asked panelists what more can be done to get more young people involved in climate action.
Jevanic Henry, Special Envoy for Climate Change in Saint Lucia, said there needs to be increased awareness where young people are educated about the issues so they can support advocacy efforts and mobilize others in engaging in climate action. Zalika-Hanoman-Van-Sluytman, an environmental advocate from Barbados, stressed that this engagement should begin at a young age where a deeper level of environmental and climate change issues are taught in schools.
Speaking on behalf of the private sector, Denell Florius, COO of ECOCarib Saint Lucia, called for government to support more innovative endeavors from the youth, maintaining that “if we do not support the youth then we do not have a future”. Supporting this view, Senator Judd Cadet of Grenada underscored that we must engage young people, listen and help them to “drive policy from the ground up.” Vincentian Nafesha Richardson, Founder of Spark SVG, summed it up in this way: “we have to listen to our young people so that our policies are more diverse and more innovative”.
Building Our Own Table; Youth as equal Partners in the Developmental Agenda
Moderated by Saint Lucia native Nyus Alfred, Youth Officer with the OECS Commission, this panel discussed the need for increased active youth participation and equal representation. Throughout the Caribbean, youth participation varies from island to island, however the common sentiment form youth and other stakeholders is that young people are not only the future, but they are the “right now”.
In speaking to the issue of youth representation, President of Dominica National Youth Council, Kerdisha St. Louis contended that more work needs to be done at the grassroot level to educate people on how to advocate for their wants and needs. This can be done through the establishment of Youth Councils and Youth Parliaments, which Odion Hillocks, youth representative from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines said is missing in his respective country.
Selena Jn Baptiste, 2nd Vice President, National Council for and of Persons with Disabilities in Saint Lucia emphasized the importance of having representation of youth in decision-making across the diverse youth demographic. Noting that representatives from the disabled community have been typically disregarded, she underscored that they understand the issues being faced and the best strategies moving forward.
From the level of policy, Senator Judd Cadet of Grenada charged that young people must be involved in the policy-making process since the policies being implemented will directly affect them. In this regard, Dr Adis King, Minister of Youth in Dominica, believes this generation has a wealth of ideas and they can assist Governments with several development plans as we navigate these challenging times.
The Youth Day was broadcast in partnership with UWI and reached approximately 10,000 people across the Caribbean region.
UN entities involved in this initiative
FAO
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
ILO
International Labour Organization
ITU
International Telecommunication Union
OCHA
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
PAHO
Pan American Health Organization
UN ECLAC
United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
UN Women
United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women
UNDP
United Nations Development Programme
UNEP
United Nations Environment Programme
UNESCO
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization