CCYD convenes in Haiti

By Melissa Bryant
Reporter~SKNVibes.com

~~Adz:Right~~PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – THE CARICOM Commission on Youth Development (CCYD) recently met in Haiti to discuss preliminary research findings and to develop a plan of action to complete the Commission’s Report.

According to Caribbean Net News, these recommendations would be discussed at the special meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) in April 2009, prior to its submission to the CARICOM Conference of Heads of Government in July 2009.

Presenters will highlight regional issues and trends garnered from a review of the literature on Caribbean adolescents and youth and from preliminary reports on youth perspectives on adolescent and youth vision, aspirations, concerns, identity and CSME perspectives; CARICOM and the CSME; and the relevance, functionality and responsiveness of youth governance structures.

Dr. Hilary Brown, Programme Manager for Culture, Youth and Community Development at the CARICOM Secretariat, recognised the pivotal role played by youth in regional development.

She averred that CARICOM needs to go beyond mere acknowledgement of this and take decisive action to address the many challenges faced by Caribbean youth and to build upon the strengths, vitality, energy, skills and potential of the many youth who are already making valuable contributions to the regional body.

CCYD Co-Chair Barry Chevannes guaranteed that the Commission would fulfil its mandate to provide a comprehensive analysis of the challenges and opportunities for youth in the CSME and to make recommendations on how to improve their well-being and empowerment.

Haitian Minister of Youth, Sport and Civic Action Evans Lescouflair pointed to the significance of the CCYD Meeting in Haiti.

“It augurs well for the quality of the cooperation to be effected between our country and the other CARICOM countries and the sustained efforts that must be deployed in order to build an effective and productive partnership that provides opportunities for integration for the benefit of our youth”.