Prince of Wales Gives Two New Youth Programmes His Blessing
|
|
|
Contact: Julita Peter
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 – HRH Prince of Wales, on his one-day visit to the island last week, helped launched two programmes for youth development in Saint Lucia. The National Youth Mentoring Program and the St. Lucia Youth Business Trust are patterned to programmes initiated by the prince over thirty years ago.
Prince Charles said he took up the personal project, which he funded with his severance pay, after retiring from the British Navy.
The programmes are aimed at engendering a positive mindset among the youth, focusing on indiscipline and unemployment. The National Youth Mentoring Program is said to provide one of the best chances for the rehabilitation of young offenders, helping them to integrate into society.
The Youth Business Trust, on the other hand, will provide the necessary finance and technical skills to young entrepreneurs in starting up of their businesses.
Prince Charles said he was thrilled that the programme was being introduced to St. Lucia.
“One of the great challenges is how to develop self esteem and build confidence amongst many young people and that is what my Trust has been trying to do for the last thirty-two years. And with the personal development courses, it does provide a better way of dealing with the challenges of life,” Prince Charles said.
Commenting on the Youth Business Trust, Prime Minister Honourable Stephenson King said it will assist in filling the economic void experienced by the youth.
“Both programmes are sure to engender St. Lucian youths with positive mindsets, so they approach the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in this millennium,” he said to a small audience. “Such initiatives will eventually empower our youths with rights; rights that will in turn bring responsibility in preparation for performing a leading role in the shaping of our society.”
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall's visit to the island on Friday March 7th was part of a four-island Caribbean tour by sea. The royal couple made their entry into St. Lucia through Port Soufriere amid much pomp and ceremony. Following the official Guard of Honour ceremonies, the two witnessed a cultural presentation by schools from the district, at the Soufriere Square.
They also visited the Fond dou Estate and Hotel Cho-Co- Lat, witnessing the traditional ways of processing cocoa beans and the varieties of cocoa plants on the two estates.
“What a huge pleasure it is to be back in St. Lucia again. The last time I was here was in 1989. But before that I was here some 34 years ago, when I was serving in the royal navy on the West Indies station. During that time we did seven months on the station, and I have very merry memories of the time I spent in this part of the world, all those years ago. So to come back and to see how things are developing is for me particularly fascinating,” said Prince Charles.
The royal visit culminated with a reception at Government House where the Prince of Wales awarded gold medals to awardees of the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme—a programme started by his father, Prince Philip. |
|
© 2008 Government Information Service. All rights reserved. Read our privacy guidelines. |
