Basseterre, St. Kitts, August 13, 2021 (SKNIS): Minister of Youth, the Honourable Jonel Powell, saluted several partners that work alongside the Department of Youth Empowerment in pursuit of its sustainable development programming.
The minister’s comments were made as he delivered a national address to mark International Youth Day 2021 on Thursday. The annual event is celebrated on August 12. This year’s theme was “Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health.”
On Thursday, the Department of Youth Empowerment organized several environmental-related activities including planting fruit trees, in observance of the day. Minister Powell referred to Pillar Six of the Federal Youth Policy which urges the engagement of young people to manage the environment, natural resources, and climate change impacts to benefit present and future generations.
“My fellow citizens, this is indeed of critical importance to the future of our small nation in more ways than can be articulated now. However, I wish to commend the many institutions, organizations, informal groups, and everyday individuals who stood up and put their energies towards realizing this mandate, whether they recognize it or not,” Honourable Powell stated.
He then singled out key public sector partners, including the Ministries of Agriculture, Tourism, and Environment as well as the Department of Marine Resources. Civic entities credited by the minister were the Backyard Gardening Association, Ripple Institute, Sandy Point Agricultural Cooperative Society (SPACS), the Turtle Monitoring Network, Anjolique Dance Theatre, Reef Guardians, Kenneth’s Dive Centre, the Small Grants Programme, National Youth Ambassador Corps, the Volunteer Corps and others.
“Through your commitment and sustained contributions, I have no doubt that we would in short time, realize the day when St. Kitts and Nevis can declare our food security and independence, a day when global catastrophes brought on by external shocks such as COVID-19, would have little impact on our ability to feed ourselves and even our neighbours,” Minister Powell said.
The minister said that the diverse, far-reaching and sustained efforts of these partners in support of a sustainable environment and sustainable agriculture while facilitating the engagement of youth, are most welcomed.
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