BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, May 26, 2010 (Labour Secretariat) - “There is a general sense that young people are disengaged, that somehow they do not vote, that somehow they’re not interested in the political process”.
Speaking these words at the one day conference of the National Young Labour Organization (NYLO) at Diamond Cut Restaurant on May 15, Lawyer Sylvester Anthony challenged those in the youth organization to be more than just “tokens”.
“If young people are the future, then they really should have a right to participate in the decision making process and they can’t be just tokens,” Lawyer Anthony said. “There is an unclaimed constituency of young people that should become active in the political process.”
“If you have to be a powerful force within the Labour Party, you have to organize.
There is strength in numbers,” he added.
Tokenism refers to a policy or pracice of limited inclusion of members of a minority group, usually creating a false appearance of inclusive practices, intentional or not.
At the same time Lawyer Anthony pointed out that the right of young people to participate in the democratic political process must come with a measure of responsibility.
“We don’t teach civic responsibility anymore,” he said with lament.
Lawyer Anthony said that if politicians are to reach out to young people then they have to do so using social media or networks because young people use this medium to communicate.
This year’s NYLO was held under the theme: “We Have a Voice: I Speak! You Listen! We Act”.
President of the NYLO, Meshach Alford, made a passionate appeal for the youth organization to participate in the decision making processes of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party and that the authorities within the party show more support to the youth movement in his welcome message.
“The democratic rights and needs of young people can only be satisfied through meaningful participation, that is, the active engagement of young people in all phases of planning, development and implementation of policies, programs and services that affect their lives.
“NYLO must be made an integral part of the decision making bodies and leadership spheres of the clubs, organizations and committees they wish to join. The right to participate and engage in the political processes is a fundamental right and should be supported realistically by those in authority. This is true democracy,” Mr. Alford said.
Mr. Alford underscored the need for training and capacity building within the NYLO.
Hon. Curtis Martin, Speaker of the National Assembly, spoke to the group on the topic “Ensuring the sustainability of the NYLO through continuous capacity building”.
On the other hand, Lawyer Anthony challenged the young people to get involved because politics is about their own welfare, that of their dreams, aspirations, opportunities and future.
“It is not a good thing…it is a dangerous thing where young people are not involved and interested in the politics,” he said.
