Basseterre, St. Kitts, September 22nd, 2011 (SKNIS): Young people from around the Caribbean Region have convened in St. Kitts and Nevis to formulate strategies to reduce violent conflicts amongst their peers.
On Wednesday evening, Director of Youth Empowerment Geoffrey Hanley welcomed the delegates and participants to the Cana-Caribe: Peace-building and Leadership Training Meeting which is scheduled to run from September 21 to 25.
The event is sponsored by the Commonwealth Youth Programme, Commonwealth Secretariat and is attended by persons from Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and host St. Kitts and Nevis.
Cana-Caribe Chairperson Crystal Alexander explained that the timing of the project was strategic, given the upsurge of antisocial activity over the last two years. Commonwealth studies have identified youth as the primary perpetrators and/or victims. She congratulated the participants for standing up to “lead the charge in creating a more peaceful, just and prosperous society” by undertaking the peace building and leadership courses of the sessions.
Acting Regional Director of the Commonwealth Youth Programme Caribbean Center (CYPCC) Dwynette Eversley explained that the entity is very proud of this initiative.
“This programme calls for the young people who are participating to develop Action Plans which are national but community based, and which feeds into a Regional Plan,” she stated. “I can indicate at the level of the CYPCC that we are going to be prepared to continue to support the development of a pilot, into a sustainable project over a three year period.”
St. Kitts and Nevis Minister of Youth Empowerment Honourable Glenn Phillip stressed that the Federal Government was pleased to be associated with this programme given its commitment to provide positive alternatives for persons involved in social vices.
“This fire of Cana-Caribe 2011 will be ignited here in Basseterre to provide the light of information and warmth of inclusion not only for the communities of St. Kitts and Nevis but … for the farer reaches of our Region and our hemisphere,” he stressed. Minister Phillip wished the delegates well and said that he would eagerly await the report of outcomes.
*************************
DISCLAIMER
This article was posted in its entirety as received by SKNVibes.com. This media house does not correct any spelling or grammatical error within press releases and commentaries. The views expressed therein are not necessarily those of SKNVibes.com, its sponsors or advertisers
