Basseterre, St. Kitts, November 27, 2015 (SKNIS): The Honourable Shawn Richards, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Youth Empowerment and Education, has hailed Youth Month activities as empowering tools for young people, as the activities planned throughout the month of November are designed to do so.
In an interview with the St. Kitts and Nevis Information Service (SKNIS) on Friday, November 27, at the 2015 Youth Month High School Chef Competition, the Deputy Prime Minister said that there are many ways in which youth can be empowered, making reference to the annual cook-off.
“When you look at this competition, it is a chef competition,” he said, adding that Home Economics is one of the subject which is taught in the schools in St. Kitts and Nevis. “This competition therefore, helps our students to showcase their cooking skills, but apart from showcasing their cooking skills, it is an added opportunity for our young persons to develop what they have been taught in the different classrooms. It is an opportunity for them to see how they compare to their peers in other high schools.”
Deputy Prime Minister Richards said that as his Ministry works towards empowering young people they would want them to be able to create avenues where they can work for themselves instead of focusing on working for others. He added that activities such as the High School Cook-Off Competition will help the department to further empower young people and create self-employment in the areas of cooking, or in any other area which they desire.
The Youth Empowerment minister expressed his and his department’s desire to host such event. As the Minister of Education, Minister Richards said that for future competitions, he would ensure that all schools participate as it is beneficial to the students and it should be recognized by teachers and all high schools.
Minister Richards offered words of encouragement to the past, present and future participants.
“Competition indeed is good, especially amongst our own children,” he said. “It is not just about the competitive nature of what it is you are doing, but it is about developing your own craft, your own skills, because you are able to see what is being done differently by others. You are able to learn from that, you are able to develop friendships and networks.”
He further stated that for the future he would expect the very same students who are participating, to call upon each other to seek advice relative to Home Economics or other areas of their education or their life in general.
“The competition is one we encourage; competition is one that we will continue to have among our students, not merely for the sake of competing but for them to be able to benefit from all of the other things, all of the other advantages which would come out of one partaking in competitive activities,” he said.
Present at the 2015 Youth Month High School Chef Competition were Mr. Vernon Connor, Youth Advisor in the Ministry of Youth Empowerment and other staff of the department.
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