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Acknowledgements • Suriname for hosting • CARICOM Secretariat Staff for preparing • Haiti for attending despite their tragedy • Commissioners for fulfilling their mandate • Colleague Ministers for attending Today we are meeting as a Council at a critical juncture, where both man-made and natural catastrophes threaten the very foundation of our existence. Global economic crises, the effects of climate change, Chronic Non-Communicable and other life-style related diseases in addition to crime and violence are seemingly complicit in ravaging the economies of our societies. Our sister island of Haiti is a telling example of how perilously vulnerable we are to environmental threats, the majority of which are self-imposed – a direct consequence of our own poor stewardship of the environment. We meet at a time when over 200 million youth across the world are living in poverty; 130 million are illiterate; 88 million are unemployed and 10 million are living with HIV/AIDS. In the Caribbean region, the murder rates – at 30 per 100,000 annually – are higher than any other region of the world. Youth crime is reportedly costing the Region at least 7% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and young people are said to be the primary perpetrators as well as the victims of violence. Against this background, we meet to discuss the Report of the CARICOM Commission on Youth Development. While the Report observes that there are deep pockets of excellence among the youth population of our Community, we cannot ignore the grave issues and the implications of those issues, raised by the Report. These include, ineffective education systems, lack of knowledge of regional integration issues, particularly the Community’s flagship, CSME, declining influence of family, community and school; ineffective youth governance structures and an inability to keep pace with constantly changing technologies and cultural penetration. Although we may all agree that the issues in themselves are not new, the crisis has escalated in the face of global threats and are compelling us to review the approaches we might have adopted in the past in treating with these issues. Therefore, in the midst of a crisis situation we still have an opportunity to reflect, re-create or re-visit and or re-invent the way we tackle the youth development agenda of the region. One thing is sure: it is to our own peril that we do nothing; we must do something and not just anything. In our reflection, we have to acknowledge that based on the argument and evidence presented in the Report, the previous policies and mandates coming out of this COHSOD for the most part have either not been implemented at the national level or have not been monitored to ensure their workability and effectiveness, hence their impacts have been less than minimal. Ladies and Gentlemen: colleague Ministers: the problem does not lie in our failure to devise and implement interventions to advance youth development – Caribbean governments in tandem with international donor organizations have invested millions in youth related interventions over the past decade. So what then is the problem? Perhaps we now need to examine the nature of the interventions that we developed and the approach we adopted in developing and implementing those interventions. Perhaps, and arguably so, the problem also lies in the haphazard / sporadic way in which we tackle the youth agenda; and even more crucial, perhaps we have been talking about youth; formulating policies for youth to improve the situation of youth without hearing from and involving the youth themselves; without engaging and involving them in the development of solutions to their own problems. I therefore urge us not to treat the symptoms of the problem but to get to the heart and root of the matter: it is not business as usual. We need to do the right things, at the right time, in the right way. The COHSOD needs to look at what the real problem of implementation is and not the systems? What do we need to do differently? What is the real problem with the governance structure of youth departments and other youth related organizations? How are those organizations resourced and monitored? In the same vein, the COHSOD needs to look at itself in relation to youth development: we can no longer afford the error of making a distinction between youth development, human and social development and regional development systems. We will therefore need to re-consider and re-examine objectively the issues related to the operations of this COHSOD: How do we formulate policies; how are they implemented and how are they monitored at the national level? In addition, as we deliberate, let us do so cognizant of the voices of youth which have reverberated clearly in the Report of the CARICOM Commission on Youth Development: Mr Chairman, they are frustrated, displaced, alienated and in many instances confused by the mixed signals that we – their leaders – send them. More over, their confidence in the capacities and willingness of our governments to treat adequately with their issues is waning. It is also clear that they too are concerned about the impact of their own risky behaviours and crying out for mentorship and support from the traditional stronghold of socialization – the family, our schools, our church and our civic leaders. Herbert Clark Hoover was made popular by his cynical remark about the economy and youth. He said, “Blessed are the young for they shall inherit the national debt.” I believe Hoover is forcing us to consider the kind of legacy we leave for our children and our children’s children. While his statement suggests that we have seemingly divested our responsibilities to the youth, it also beckons us to be accountable for our actions in national development on the one hand. On the other hand, Hoover’s statement calls for young people to act responsibly and become assertive productive ideal citizens of the Caribbean, knowing fully well that they will inherit a Caribbean, “less than ideal,” and it is on their shoulders that the future of this “less than ideal” Caribbean will rest. Ladies and gentlemen, colleague ministers: I am convinced that our young people have a contribution to make to this region if we provide them with an enabling environment. HOW DO WE DO THAT? There’s a strong call for greater and more strategic investment in youth. That is good; but we face similar risks if we invest without involvement; we will run into similar problems if we invest without careful monitoring. To avoid this, we must bring the young people themselves to sit at the table of decision–making and problem solving – not in a ‘ceremonial ritualistic token kind of way,’ – but in recognition of their limitless possibilities; their creative energies and their natural affinity to, and mastery of the technological advances that we must harness in order to advance the integration movement, within a global context. It is therefore important in examining and developing policy interventions for youth that we consider what youth say and not what people say or think they want to say. We must consider what youth really need and not what people think they need. WE MUST ENGAGE AND INVOLVE THEM. So today, the issues before us include, the development of youth-driven policies and interventions to enhance the quality of life of our young people; the nature and magnitude of investment in youth and its attendant accountability mechanisms; youth mainstreaming for problem solving; developing appropriate resources for youth related organizations; finding sustainable mechanisms for youth participation and of critical importance forging partnerships with young people to tackle the aforementioned issues. And while we do that, I would like to use this opportunity to charge our young people, to make good of the investments we make in them. Consider your own role in adding value to the region by making the investment work. You have our attention and you have so expressively pointed out that youth risk and vulnerability is costing the region several millions of dollars. We ask you – youth leaders – to help us to help to create that enabling environment. I entreat you in the words of one of your popular artistes – Mr Vegas – when it comes to crime and violence; un-protected sex; drug abuse and other risky behaviours, “tek whey yuhself”
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