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Feature Address By H.e. Desiré Delano Bouterse, President Of The Republic Of Suriname, On The Occasion Of The Caricom – Unasur High Level Youth Exchange, 14 June 2012, Paramaribo, Suriname

​(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana)  It is for me a privilege to exchange views with youth of the CARICOM and UNASUR in this first ever High Level Youth Exchange. I would like to congratulate both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs for making this exchange happen here in my beloved country.

I do consider this exchange part of a continuum of initiatives taken all over the world, to address the various concerns of youth. I was, in fact, very eagerly looking forward to this opportunity. As you are aware, Suriname is a country with a remarkable and extraordinary cultural heritage and traditions. It is a vibrant democracy which reflects unity in diversity. Although UNASUR and CARICOM represent two very different regions when it comes to economy, language and geographical location, we share a common past and most importantly a common future.

I want to use this opportunity to reiterate our commitment to a common youth policy in the South American Region in UNASUR taking advantage of the experience we have had so far within CARICOM. One of the most outstanding issues that require our attention as a region, at this stage, are matters concerning our youth, because they are the future and it is of great importance for the development of our region to involve them in our integration process. That is the reason investing in our youth will definitely guarantee the highest yield and create a brighter future for the Caribbean and South American regions.

Youth in both our regions comprise an average of 63% of total population and it is expected that this figure will significantly grow in the future meaning an enormous human resource potential for our two regions. Youth in Suriname have always been in the forefront. Be it our struggle against colonization and for freedom or the quest for development, they have played a vital role. A separate Department of Sports and Youth Affairs was set up in 2010 and efforts were made to formulate a National Youth Policy aimed at alleviating the needs of our youth. Ladies and Gentlemen; Dear friends:

As Chairman of CARICOM and since my country is portfolio holder of Community Development and Cultural Cooperation including Sport, Youth, Culture and Gender, Suriname took the initiative to host the High Level Youth Exchange. I am proud and honoured to welcome you all in our capital city, Paramaribo, today and I thank you for being here.

I sincerely hope that this important gathering will result in a new regional Youth Policy that brings the two regions closer to each other. Please accept my words as an encouragement to identify the key areas of youth concern, like education, training and employment, health, environment, recreation and sports, art and culture, citizenship, science and technology. I invite you to bring forward new ideas to address these challenges.

This Exchange also endeavours to attach priority to the needs of underprivileged and marginalized youth in our countries and our region. It is the plight of the leaders of our region to work tirelessly to safeguard your future and I can assure you that I will always call on my colleagues to join me in the realization of your aspirations, being convinced that they will answer my call.

Young people of both regions: I encourage you to travel within your country as well as to other countries and share your experiences and culture. I also encourage you to understand each other’s culture and traditions and to develop friendship and peace.

Charge to CARICOM Youth Ambassadors I now I wish to address the newly installed CARICOM Youth Ambassadors: You are called upon to become the Community’s envoys charged with fostering youth participation in integration and development at the national and regional levels. Your mandate is implicit in your pledge to use your energies, talents and resources to provide leadership for young people of your country and region, and promote the aims, objectives and goals of the Caribbean Community. This mandate outlines the important role you are called upon to play in nation and community building.

The task before you is not an ordinary one. You have been called out to provide leadership now. It is the best of times, because we can still find young people in the region, who have indicated their commitment to regional development by volunteering their time, talent and energies to serve as youth ambassadors. It is the best of times, because the region still has talented and creative young people who are excelling in their fields, especially in the area of education, sport development, culture, technology and small business enterprise. Now more than ever, we need a social revolution.

This social transformation needs strong youth leadership. It is with this in mind that you are called upon to lead here and now. I want you to MAKE A DIFFERENCE. It really does not matter where you are from or which school you went to or who your parents are… If you put your minds to it, all of you can transcend class and geographical barriers and work together to realize your full potential, thus helping to improve the quality of life of other youth in our regions. We are committed to helping you but to whom much is given, much is expected! This calls for discipline, tenacity of purpose and commitment.

You must influence your peers to achieve stated goals of social positive change. In making a difference as transformational leaders, you must be creative thinkers with a vision for the kind of world in which you want to live. As creative thinkers, you must not only challenge the status quo but encourage creativity among your peers. You are called upon to explore new ways of doing things, introduce innovations and create new opportunities to learn. You are called upon no only to be politically savvy and become involved the politics of your regions. It is an important part of being a responsible citizen. Politics provide a platform on which you can address social concerns.

Political leadership is necessary to address some of the region’s pressing challenges, including youth gangs and violence, climate change, unemployment, lack of identity, Chronic Non-communicable Diseases, HIV and AIDS. These all need your attention. In your “advocacy for positive change and equal rights for Caribbean youth” you have to be politically savvy in order to negotiate and bargain for the tools to realize your vision in the face of competing resources. There are those who have blazed a torch of difference for you: The CARICOM Youth Ambassador Program has served to strengthen the leadership capacity of Ambassadors and they have made tangible contributions to national and regional development.

The CARICOM Commission on Youth Development, for example, was co-chaired by Ms. Yldiz Beighle of Suriname; Mr. Melvin Bouva from Suriname, Mr. Kyle Defreitas of St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Dr. Terri Ann Gilbert Roberts of Jamaica served as Commissioners; Thirdly the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV and AIDS Mini grant programme, managed by the Corps, was deemed a potential model of best practice The CARIFESTA Youth Focus was conceptualized, developed, implemented and managed by CARICOM Youth Ambassadors and youth networks and, last but not least, the CARICOM Youth Ambassadors in Belize established a national scholarship programme

My young friends: You do well to light your candles from their flaming torch and Make A Difference in the region. As the Lead Head with responsibility for youth development, I stand with you in your pledge “to work for the social and economic advancement of our region and to advocate for the Caribbean to be recognized and respected as a zone of peace, tranquillity and human dignity and excellence within the global system.” I give you my solemn commitment to invest in youth NOW for the Community Tomorrow. May I congratulate you and wish you all the strength needed to carry out this difficult and noble responsibility. From now on you are CARICOM Youth Ambassadors and I salute you and I invite you to share your experiences with your UNASUR peers. Ladies and Gentlemen:

I now declare the first CARICOM – UNASUR High Level Youth Exchange open.

I thank you.

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