• CYPCaribbean:
• Youth Caucus:
• St Lucia

St Lucia

Profile: Ms. Bernice Robinson

 

Bernice Robinson has been actively involved in voluntary groups in her community for many years. These include: Mon Repos Youth and Sports Council, Vizion Jeunesse and La Pointe 4-H club, and The La Pointe Emergency Management Organization. Currently, she serves as an Officer of the Credit Committee of the Mon Repos Eastern Co-operative Credit Union.

 

She works with the Water and Sewerage Company (WASCO) Inc. as a Communication's Officer (Complaints Department). In that position Bernice interfaces with a wide cross-section of the south of the island. She considers this a good opportunity to "feel the pulse" of the people. She would then be able to convey information to policy makers and back to "the people" in an informal and effective manner.

 

Bernice believes that there is a 'disconnect' between the policy makers and the 'youth' on the ground in the various communities. Very often, the youth feel that persons in authority, or who are the policy makers, speak at them rather than to them, or with them, and their ideas are neither sought nor seriously regarded, far less implemented. This, she sees, as one of the leading causes of low youth participation in programmes and conventions geared towards issues affecting them on the island. It is the responsibility of the RYC representative to bridge that gap since young people need to feel that they are not obstacles but invaluable resources in the developmental process.

 

As a member of the RYC, Bernice believes she can bring about the type of change that the ILO Director-General, Juan Somavia spoke about: "All over the world, young women and young men, if they are given the opportunity, make an important contribution as productive workers, employers, consumers, members of civil society and agents of change.