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• Caribbean Youth: Building a legacy of peace and sustainable development

Caribbean Youth: Building a legacy of peace and sustainable development

29 September 2008

 

2008 CARIBBEAN YOUTH DAY MESSAGE

CYPCC REGIONAL DIRECTOR, Henry Charles

September 30, 2008

Many of us have grown accustomed to a daily diet of media reports chronicling the negative manifestations of youth socialization.  Whether the issue is Crime and violence; HIV and AIDS; substance abuse or drug trafficking the portrait painted is of a crisis among our young Caribbean citizens.

It is no secret that many, if not all of our major development challenges impact on Caribbean young people in a most profound and disproportionate manner. However it is also true that the majority of our young Caribbean citizens has and continues to make a significant contribution in the development of their communities, country and region.

Lest we forget the once mighty West Indies cricket team comprised of young people. Each year our secondary and tertiary institutions graduate hundreds of brilliant academics and intellectuals. Many of our leading artistic icons made their mark when they could have still boasted of being a "youth". In communities throughout the Caribbean young people are involved in clubs and other community organizations working towards the sustainable development of these communities. The recent success of some young regional athletes at the Beijing Olympics ignited a spirit of unprecedented national pride and unity, throughout the Caribbean.

Suffice it to say that despite our obvious challenges, we must never forget that Caribbean young people are a key partner in the evolution of our Caribbean civilization. They with their abundance of energy, creativity, dynamism and technological savvy must be treated and engaged as strategic partners in our quest for peace and sustainable development.

It is for these reasons I implore you to use the occasion of Caribbean Youth Day 2008 to celebrate the achievements of our young citizens. Let us use this occasion to promote and reward the young unsung heroes in our education institutions, sporting fraternity, artistic community, business enterprises and governance systems. If we do then we would help paint the portrait of a great story yet untold.

 I wish you all divine blessings and "One Love" on this the occasion of Caribbean Youth Day 2008.