BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, July 24th 2011 (CUOPM) – St. Kitts and Nevis’ Minister of Youth Empowerment, Hon. Glen Phillip has told a UN High-Level meeting that as one of the world’s smallest nations, “every citizen and every resident, every son and every daughter is a key component in the engine of our social and economic aspirations.”
“And it is this belief that compels us to leave no son or daughter behind.
My country has a population of about fifty-thousand-of which our youth comprise a significant majority. And we believe that it is in the preparation and inclusion of our youth population that we, in that St. Kitts and Nevis, will continue to accomplish our social objectives.
Indeed, it is through preparation and inclusion that these important objectives will be transformed into sustainable economic advancement for all,” Mr. Phillip told Heads of State, Ministers and other government officials among representatives from 400 youth groups and young artists from all over the world at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. .
He pointed out that the qualities of youth are innovation, inspiration and adventure and as the world around changes, St. Kitts and Nevis understands that “we too must be ever vigilant, resilient and purposeful as we seek to build a most progressive society.”
Mr. Philip told the United Nations delegates that over the past four decades ago, St. Kitts and Nevis recognised the need for a people rightly trained to build up and preserve the social and economic fortunes of the nation.
“Indeed, it was the vision of our first national hero, the Right Excellent Sir Robert L Bradshaw that led to the introduction of free comprehensive and compulsory primary and secondary education more than 40 years ago - thus meeting and surpassing the UN’s Millennium Development Education Goals almost half a century before they had even been conceptualised.
“Over the years we have built upon this crucial foundation, with our first Prime Minister, Sir Kennedy A Simmonds, for example, introducing early childhood education in the 1980’s as yet another prized gift that we present to all our nation’s sons and daughters,” said Mr. Philip, the youngest Minister in the Cabinet of Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas.
Mr. Phillip, who is also Minister of Sports, Information Technology, Telecommunications and Posts also pointed out that under the leadership of current Prime Minister, The Honourable Dr. Denzil L Douglas, St. Kitts and Nevis has pursued an even greater vision.
“Through a culture of student government, we prepare our, boys and girls, and therefore our people, for active participation in the time- honoured democratic ideals on which stable governments everywhere depend and are seeking to develop and manage an E-Learning and Communications Network to digitally connect all our high schools and institutions of higher learning. Our aim here being to prepare our youth to effectively participate in the Knowledge society of the present- as well as the Knowledge society that is yet to emerge,” said Mr. Philip.
He also highlighted the goal to work assiduously in defense of the youth in the ten priority areas identified by the international community.
“And we actively pursue equal education and equal employment opportunities for all our youth as we implement programmes to eliminate hunger and poverty; drug abuse and juvenile delinquency, while delivering improved health care and a cleaner, safer environment,” said Mr. Phillip.
He noted that through information, communications and technology advancements, and through the support of local youth organizations such as the St. Kitts and Nevis Youth Parliamentary Association and Island Expressions, the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis, through his Ministry of Youth Empowerment, advances the ongoing preparation of young people to meet the challenges of today and the uncertainties of tomorrow.
Mr. Phillip, in his first United Nations appearance since his election in January 2010 and his appointment as a Minister, expressed thanks to the United Nations for the role it plays through UNESCO and UNICEF.
“These bodies help us to achieve our youth empowerment and development goals. And today the UNESCO Small Island Voice and PATH Projects, for example, play pivotal roles in raising issues in St. Kitts and Nevis that otherwise might have been left unspoken,” said Minister Phillip.
He said St. Kitts and Nevis like others in the Caribbean and around the world was facing the challenges of violence, drugs and crime among its youth, which had become targets of exploitation by “unscrupulous businessmen” in those markets.
In that regard, he appealed to the wider international community and to “leaders of conscience” to intervene, in particular through the provision of technical and financial resources for combating that three-pronged scourge. Such assistance was crucial to the development of the nation and, by extension, to that of others.
*************************
DISCLAIMER
This article was posted in its entirety as received by SKNVibes.com. This media house does not correct any spelling or grammatical error within press releases and commentaries. The views expressed therein are not necessarily those of SKNVibes.com, its sponsors or advertisers
