Basseterre, Saint Kitts, May 27, 2025 (SKNIS): Aquanjé Robinson, Executive Research Officer in the Ministry of Environment, delivered a stirring address on behalf of youth delegates from across the globe, at the official opening ceremony for the Global Sustainable Islands Summit (GSIS) hosted at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort on May 27. Speaking with conviction, Mr. Robinson gave voice to a generation born into the climate crisis and determined to drive meaningful change.
With attendees from the Caribbean, Fiji, the Maldives, and beyond, the May 25 and 26, 2025, Island Youth Forum that preceded the Summit created a space for young leaders to engage in deep dialogue and present unified calls to action. Standing before an international audience, Mr. Robinson channelled the passion, frustration, and hope of youth worldwide.
“We gathered not merely to speak, but to be heard. We gathered to learn, and we gathered for change,” said the executive research officer. “The forum was fortunately positioned ahead of the Global Sustainable Islands Summit, allowing our voices to funnel directly into this very moment.”
His remarks challenged the status quo, calling out performative youth engagement and urging decision-makers to move beyond symbolic gestures. The young leader made it clear that youth are not interested in being tokens, but partners in policy and planning.
“We are the architects of the future who deserve a seat at the table, not just when it's time to smile for the camera, but when decisions are being made. We want to be called upon from beginning to end. Anything less is a disservice, not just to us, but to the entire world,” he said.
Mr. Robinson also offered a deeply human reflection, recalling a quiet moment of inclusion from the forum – open hands waving in the air in silent applause for disabled youth. It was, he said, an example of what genuine belonging looks like – unforced, powerful, and affirming.
“So today, I issue a clarion call to leaders, to policymakers, to parliamentary secretaries, and the like. Let spaces like these not just end at speeches. Let them feed real policy. Let them open doors to planning, to budgeting, to impact,” he said. “We are not just leaders of tomorrow. We are capable contributors of today. We are not interested in inheriting a planet in crisis, wrapped in promises. We want to help manage it now.”
Mr. Robinson’s words struck a chord. His message was clear: youth are ready – not just to speak, but to act, shape, and lead. The question left for the world’s decision-makers is whether they are ready to truly listen.
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