Name: Al Flemming
School: Charlestown Secondary and Nevis Sixth Form College
Age: 17
Territory: Nevis
Topic: Discuss the role of young people in shaping the future of the OECS countries.
Disclaimer
The views expressed in this essay are those of the student named above and do not represent the views of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank
“We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future” - As the OECS continues to evolve and face numerous challenges, no more does this statement by former US President, Franklin Roosevelt ring true as a call for greater involvement and action from our young people.
“Youth” has been defined by the Commonwealth as those persons between the ages of 15-29 years. At this critical stage of development, it is this group of young people, with all their ideas and dynamism, whom the OECS must wholeheartedly embrace.
But what precisely is the role of our youth in shaping the future of the OECS? It is a role in which they begin to assume their rightful place as young leaders, understanding that they must begin to make a contribution now, if tomorrow’s society is to have true meaning and relevance to them.
Presently, young people under the age of 30 comprise approximately 60% of the Caribbean’s population. Consequently, their value cannot be denied and they must therefore position themselves appropriately, as they lead the region into a future of entrepreneurship, innovation and inter-island cooperation.
The single most important tool for optimal youth participation in the development process is quality education. Our youth must be willing to educate themselves, as the modern society is one where knowledge is power. Every advantage should be taken of all information-literacy programs on the new Economic Union, as this will allow our youth to become more knowledgeable and effective in the new work environment.
There is also an urgent need for our young people to become more entrepreneurial. They must therefore grasp any and all opportunities for vocational training so that they can become certified. This will allow them to adapt to the free movement of skilled workers, which will soon become a key feature of the OECS integration movement.
Already, the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) has sought to provide this enabling environment by sending 10 young men to Trinidad on an annual basis to pursue training in electricity, automotive technology, masonry and other vocational fields.
This initiative is important because as more young people become trained they will be able to take advantage of the policy on rights of establishment to start their own businesses. This will increase the economic output of the OECS, which will ensure its future prosperity. Therefore, our youth must not allow these opportunities to pass them by.
Another critical area through which our young people can contribute to shaping the future of the region is via communication and broadcasting. OECS integration cannot work effectively unless this matter is adequately addressed. As it stands now, each island has to deal with similar issues such as crime and justice, academic development, environmental sustainability and economic stability. All are important and relevant to each member state; yet, many citizens throughout the region believe that the challenges which they face in their respective territories are so different from the rest.
This may be an opportune time for a group of innovative and ambitious young people to step in and develop a communication mechanism to address this disconnect. They can establish a real-time news network which can serve as the CNN of the Caribbean. Just as we turn on the television to news stations in America and observe what is happening on an hourly basis in New York, Washington and Florida, so too will the people of the sub-region be able to access the OECS News Network and observe in real time, what is taking place in Basseterre, St. Kitts; Roseau, Dominica and Castries, St. Lucia. By undertaking such an initiative, this group of young people will help to pull our citizens closer together and make them aware of the various social and economic issues unfolding in other parts of the region.
In order for progress to occur and the future of the OECS secured, inter-island cooperation must also be enhanced, especially in this challenging economic climate. For this sort of integration to work, however, the youth must assist with eliminating xenophobia and convince their friends to embrace the OECS Economic Union. As it stands now, not many young people are equipped with knowledge about regional integration. Those who have it must therefore make every effort to share it.
This can be done through peer to peer and informal education. Young people must take advantage of the social networking tools such as Facebook and twitter. Rather than using these devices solely for leisurely conversation, they should generate online discussions on regional issues. This will facilitate the exchange of ideas, whilst helping to sensitize other young people on their roles, rights and responsibilities within the OECS.
A greater effort must also be made to resurrect all National Youth Councils (NYC’s) throughout the region. At a 2011 Caribbean Youth Leaders Summit in Barbados, the President of the Dominica Youth Council pointed to the need for vibrant NYC’s in each member state. He noted “If the NYCs are not strong, we can’t have a strong regional or international voice.”
The National Youth Council is a critical component in inter-regional cooperation, as it allows young people to effectively connect with each other and develop a coordinated approach to youth development in the region. Young people must therefore use the NYC’s to get their message out to their leaders.
Our youth must also become more assertive in lobbying local radio stations to feature more youth discussions on topical issues of regional development. It is far more likely that once other young people in the general community hear their peers on the radio, they will become much more attentive and receptive to the information.
Youth volunteerism is another key component through which young people can contribute to the future development of the OECS.
Presently, the region is confronted with many economic and social challenges – some natural, others man made. Irrespective of the causes, we all have to put our hands to the plow to address them, if we are to stay on course. Of utmost importance right now are the twin challenges of high crime and debt; both of which have been made more severe by the economic recession. Due to the high level of indebtedness of the region, there is less money available to adequately address several areas of development. This is where our young people come in.
Those who are trained in sports or have certain academic qualifications can give of their time as special coaches at football clinics or homework assistance programs after school hours. They can assist with teaching juvenile delinquents how to read or engage in monthly clean up campaigns to prevent further environmental degradation. Assistance of this nature will help to plug the gap, where lack of financing from government would have left a void. Although these voluntary efforts will not be personally repaid in monetary terms, they will definitely pay off in the long run by making the region more prosperous.
Undoubtedly, the part to be played by young people in moulding the future of the OECS is one of optimum importance. To be sure, any idea of development is nothing but a mere myth, if it excludes their talents, ideas and active participation. The adults and present day leaders must therefore afford our youth every possible opportunity to make a contribution, while young people in turn must take the initiative and acquire the appropriate knowledge to function effectively within the modern OECS arrangement. Once this is done, our youth will be able to cement a foundation for a bright future - a future on which God can smile!
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