REMARKS BY AMB. LOLITA APPLEWHAITE, DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL, CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY (CARICOM) AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE THIRD MEETING OF DIRECTORS OF YOUTH AFFAIRS, 3 AUGUST 2004, BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS AND NEVIS

Salutations

Let me start by saying something you already know:

That change is taking place all around us; global changes in the form of liberalisation and new technologies are taking place at a rate that is unprecedented;

That young people are among those increasingly vulnerable to poverty, social and economic marginalisation, alienation and a number of other social ills;

That the HIV/AIDS pandemic is most prevalent among young people and those in their most productive years and is now the leading cause of death among the 15 to 45 year olds;

That, finally, people under the age of 30 years represent 35% of the population of the Region, and when the range of 15 to 44 years is taken, the percentage increases to 56%.

The theme of this meeting, therefore, “Managing Change -Placing Caribbean Youth at the centre of Development, Integration and HIV/AIDS Responses,” is an all-encompassing and apt one that speaks to the challenges faced by the youth of the Region today, at the same time that it proposes a solution to these challenges.

As we move to implement the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, the sustainable development of the Caribbean Community will require: a shared vision that focuses on improving the quality of life for all, and connects youth development and empowerment to the goals of deepening and widening regional integration and development processes. It will also require equitable development of all of our human resources, guided by the profile of the ideal Caribbean citizen. It will require greater emphasis on the fresh ideas, knowledge of youth culture and high levels of energy and commitment of youth as essential elements of societal change, economic development and technological innovation. It will require effective governance structures which guarantee full participation of Caribbean youth in the act of governing and monitoring the Community’s long term strategy and direction; and, finally, it will require the professionalisation of youth work and the development of youth workers and youth leaders equipped with change management knowledge, skills and attitudes.

It was my privilege to have an informal rap session yesterday with a large group of young people, and despite the lateness of the hour and the long day the participants had had, they evinced a sense of commitment and enthusiasm which augurs well for the future of our Region. Our discussion covered a range of issues which had at their core the development and integration of the Region, the need for more public education and outreach that would more intimately involve the people of the Region, and, above all, the need for youth (as for other citizens) to be involved, not just as beneficiaries, but as participants in their own development.

The Heads of Government have demonstrated a deep commitment to the development of the youth of the Region and to initiatives that will involve young people in the governance of the affairs of the Caribbean Community.

They are therefore looking forward to receiving from these meetings proposals for the development of mechanisms that will focus on the personal and community levels and that will:

1) promote networking among and equal participation of key stakeholders including youth workers and leaders, teachers, parents, community and business partners, the media and students;

2) facilitate changes in the role of the Youth Director from that of a top-down supervisor to a facilitator, architect, steward, instructional leader, coach, and strategic teacher;

3) overcome barriers to change;

4) provide a policy environment that guarantees young peoples’ rights, especially the right to participation and to be equal partners in the development and governance process; and

5) build effective youth-adult teams, by developing new organisational structures, and integrating youth perspectives and ideas into policies and programmes to facilitate change effectively.

The Secretariat wishes to acknowledge and express its appreciation for the positive outcomes of the strategic alliances and partnerships that it has formed at all levels, evidenced by the contributions to this series of meetings of the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis, which has provided excellent arrangements as our host, LIAT and American Airlines, UNICEF, UNDP, UNESCO and GTZ.

I wish you a productive and successful meeting.