Montserrat’s Youth Ambassadors Mr. Ian Gerald and Miss Claris Yearwood
“We are the voice of our generation and through the CARICOM Youth Ambassador (CYA) Programme we work together to influence the direction of youth programming in the region,” Montserrat’s Youth Ambassador, Mr. Ian Gerald sets the tone for the CYA Corps prospect.
According to a CYA Press Release, Mr. Gerald made the statement on return from the CYA Corps Regional meeting held at Suriname’s Torarica Hotel from June 11 – June 13 with colleague Miss Claris Yearwood, current reigning 2011/12 Miss Montserrat Festival Queen. In May the two assumed appointments as the island’s Youth Ambassadors to represent the interest of the youth of Montserrat.
The meeting was geared towards the facilitation and development of a strategic plan to guide the work of the CYA in the region over the next three years though the review of the corps structure, the report of the CARICOM Commission on Youth Development (CCYD), and the CARICOM Youth Development Action Plan.
Mr. Gerald stated that, “Our regional meetings give us a chance to share the concerns of the young people of Montserrat with youth representatives from the other member countries of CARICOM, along with policy and decision makers within the CARICOM Secretariat.”
At the meeting supported by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Youth Innovation (Youth-IN) project, a Caribbean network for youth development work, the agenda included discussions on avenues for establishing and strengthening collaborations with local youth organizations, NGOs, Government Departments and Ministries, as well as tools for effective marketing of the activities of the CYA Corps. The group also joined Suriname Government officials in discussions of issues affecting young people across regional borders.
CARICOM Youth Ambassadors
In his opening remarks Suriname’s Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs, Hon. Ismantho Adna vowed the support of his Government-particularly the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs “…Stands ready to implement the outcomes of the meeting and the recommendations in the Paramaribo Declaration and to integrate the outcomes in Suriname’s youth policy.”
CARICOM Youth Ambassadors (CYAs) is a regional network of young Caribbean nationals mandated by CARICOM Heads of Governments to advocate for and educate young people about regional priorities such as AIDS and the CARICOM Single Market and Economy. They perform a dual role, addressing youth issues at the national level within a regional strategic framework, as well as bringing national issues to the attention of the Region’s policy makers and planners.
