PM Calls for Establishment of Global Fund for Youth Development

Prime Minister, Dr. Kenny D. Anthony exchanges a signed agreement with Deputy Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Mrs. Florence Mugasha. Looking on (from left) are, Marcellus Joseph, General Manager of BELfund; Armstrong Alexis, Regional Director of the Commonwealth Youth Development Fund; and Hon. Menissa Rambally, Minister of Social Transformation, Culture and Local Government.

Monday, August 9, 2004 - Prime Minister, Dr Kenny D. Anthony has challenged the Commonwealth Secretariat to establish a global fund for youth development.

The call came as the Prime Minister addressed a signing ceremony on Monday (August 9) for formal agreements for establishment of the Youth Enterprise Development Fund.

The Youth Enterprise Development Fund was first announced in the Prime Minister’s Budget Address earlier this year, and this morning marked the formal signing of a Memorandum of Understanding and a Financial Agreement between the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Government of St. Lucia, for the transfer of funds for establishment of the fund.

Speaking on behalf of the Commonwealth Secretariat, Deputy Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Mrs Florence Mugasha, acknowledged what she described as the sound stewardship, leadership, inspiration and vision of the St. Lucia Prime Minister and his demonstrated interest in the future of young people.

Mrs. Mugasha said Prime Minister Anthony was well known at the Commonwealth Secretariat for his interest in ensuring that youth perspectives are brought to the fore.
The Deputy Secretary General noted that between 1996 and 1998, St. Lucia had the highest rate of unemployment among youth, and said it was therefore, commendable that the initiative was being launched at this time, to enable young persons to contribute successfully to their own development.

For his part, Prime Minister Anthony noted that unemployment in St. Lucia was worsened by the steep decline in the fortunes of the banana industry, as well as by the ravages of global competition and its effects on the manufacturing sector.

He recalled that in its search for opportunities and alternatives for youth employment and development, the Government of St. Lucia had taken several early initiatives, including the establishment the James Belgrave Enterprise Development Fund (BELfund) and the National Skills Development Centre (NSDC). He also cited the Youth Apprenticeship Programme (YAP) identified in the last Budget Address, and

Prime Minister Anthony noted that it was impossible for any government to create or provide jobs for all unemployed persons, and in this regard, the Government of St. Lucia had decided that one way to go was to provide opportunities for those interested in self-employment.

The Prime Minister said the $100,000 to be made available to the Youth Enterprise Development Fund through the Commonwealth Youth Programme was quite welcome. He said this seed money would definitely have to be supplemented by local funds.

However, given the continuous need for such programmes, the Prime Minister called on the Deputy Secretary General of the Commonwealth to suggest to her peers at the Commonwealth Secretariat, that a special Global Fund for Youth Development be established to assist the young people in other developing countries throughout the international grouping.

Such an approach, Dr Anthony added, would help give more purpose and direction to the young people of the region and the world.

The Youth Enterprise Development Fund will be specifically targeted at youth between the ages of 18 and 29 and it will be jointly administered by the Ministry of Social Transformation, along with other such entities as the BELfund, the NSDC and the National Youth Council (NYC).

Monday morning’s ceremony was also attended by Minister for Education, Human Resource Development, Youth and Sports, Hon Mario Michel, as well as Minister for Social Transformation, Hon Menissa Rambally. Other officials in attendance included representatives of the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Commonwealth Youth Programme, the BELfund and other associated local entities.