~~Adz:Left~~Basseterre, St. Kitts (November 08, 2006): The Department of Youth is celebrating November as Youth Month.
Youth Director Geoffrey Hanley told SKNIS that the theme for this years observance is Youth Empowered for a Transformed Future. He explained the rationale behind the selection of this theme is based on the golden opportunities that young residents have to positively contribute to national development.
One main activity planned to commemorate this event is a session of Youth Parliament. Hanley cited a number of current laws and stressed that the democratic exercise which features young people going into the National Assembly as government and opposition bodies is extremely productive and has impacted the Federal body.
~~Adz:Right~~ When the young people go into Parliament and they express themselves & it is for government to listen, he stressed. It is really gratifying when you look back and see that issues that were debated in Parliament, government is now placing them (in some cases) on the National Assembly agenda and turning them into law.
This is just to indicate to the young people of St. Kitts and Nevis that you have a voice and government is listening, Hanley noted.
Youth Parliamentarians debated making helmets mandatory for motorcycle riders before it was passed in the house. The recently passed Firearms Amendment Bill of 2006 which imposes stiffer penalties for offenders of gun related charges was also addressed by the young mock parliamentary members.
~~Adz:Left~~Other Youth Month activities include a Youth Action Meeting, National Youth Symposium and a Sports Development Day. The reintroduction of a Student Council is also an activity coordinated by the Youth Department. It is hoped that this council will further prepare young people to embrace leadership roles and gain a greater sense of responsibility.
Persons are encouraged to contact the Youth Department for additional detail
