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CYP Regional Director Sends Warning to Students

27 October 2005

Henry Charles, Director of the Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP) Caribbean Centre

A stern warning was sent to students in Guyana from the Regional Director of the Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP) Caribbean Centre, Henry Charles, while he addressed the country's Ministry of Education national awards ceremony on 5 October 2005.

Mr Charles alerted the gathering of students, youth and government officials to a report, 'Caribbean Youth Development: Issues and Policy Directions', published by the World Bank in 2003, which, he said, painted a very bleak picture of the situation facing the young people of the Caribbean and by extension Caribbean societies.

He noted that issues affecting young people, such as early sexual initiation and pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, sexual and physical abuse, school drop-outs, unemployment, crime and violence, substance abuse and dealing with social exclusion, are among the negative behaviour patterns and outcomes observed among Caribbean youth.

"This bleak picture begs the question, where do we go from here?" Mr Charles said young people have the chance to reshape their societies by addressing issues and challenges facing them.

"You have a right to sustainable livelihoods, decent education, employment, decent health care systems and above all the right to live."

He stated that while this is the case, young people must respect authority and display tolerance and restraint. "You must set yourself positive, achievable goals and objectives, and vigorously pursue them," Mr Charles said.

"You have a responsibility to promote your spiritual growth and enrichment, to show appreciation for assistance, kindness, love and compassion demonstrated by your parents and teachers."

Mr Charles added that young people have a responsibility to help build a progressive society, free from violence, hatred, dishonesty and crime.

CNIS - Commonwealth News and Information Service Issue 258, 26 October 2005