Government dismisses claims by national youth council president

Monday, April 19, 2010 – The Government of Saint Lucia is dismissing claims made in a recent address by Mr. Marvin Edgar, President of the National Youth Council on the occasion of National Youth Month. The direction and approach taken in his address unfortunately displays the level of irresponsibility and immaturity that currently resides in the leadership of the National Youth Council. The aggressive and antagonistic stance assumed by the NYC President reflects a lack of appreciation of the need to depart from the archaic methods of militancy that have no place in this new era of engagement and open-mindedness.

In Mr. Edgar’s address he makes a number of claims which are far from the truth and which must be corrected for the records. The NYC President’s assertion that the organization has met with “little success” in attempting to engage Government on issues affecting youth does not mix well with the factual reality. Contrary to Mr. Edgar’s claim, the records will confirm that the one meeting that the NYC shows particular interest in and moves to initiate is to discuss the EC $42, 000.00 annual subvention from Government. Government incidentally has continued to provide this subvention despite persistent requests from the relevant authorities for the basic and conventional accounting requirements are adhered to. The NYC has consistently failed to adequately account for use of public funds invested in it by Government and to otherwise submit plans to justify accessing these funds.

With respect to Government’s policy and actual programming related to the nation’s youth, the evidence during this Government’s period in office to date is very clear and speaks loudly of a very proud record. As noted earlier the Government has been consistent in providing an annual subvention of EC $42,000.00 to the NYC. This constitutes almost ¼ of the total sum of EC $200,000.00 provided to a number of national youth organizations. The same amount was also disbursed to national sporting organizations during the past year. There were a number of initiatives undertaken by the Ministry over the past year. This included:

1. The planning and hosting of a National Beach Festival and National Schools Jump Rope Competition involving some 500 young persons and forty (40) primary schools.

2. Over four (400) athletes were trained as part of the Elite Athlete Program in the sports of Volleyball, Netball, Football, Basketball and Track & Field.

3. The Ministry undertook upgrading and refurbishment works at twelve sporting venues around the island.

4. A total of six (6) summer camps were staged and saw the participation of some Nine Hundred (900) hundred youth. These camps involved training in a number of sporting disciplines and areas pertinent to community development.

5. Appointment of four (4) Youth Ambassadors who have represented Saint Lucia over the past year in a number of regional and international forums.

6. An EC $800.000.00 upgrade of the Vigie Playing Field. This project attempts to addresses long standing problems associated with this major playing facility, which is used by thousands of young persons and many sports clubs within the Castries area. The upgrading of this facility is unprecedented and restores a measure of dignity and pride to the young sportsmen and women of the Castries basin and others who may have occasion to use the Vigie Playing Field.

The example of activities and initiatives listed above is by no means exhaustive and represents a snapshot or basic insight of the programming of the Ministry in relation to young people. In addition Prime Minister King participated in and initiated a number of actions which clearly demonstrated Government’s commitment and policy towards youth empowerment and development. The following should be noted:

1. In December 2009 Prime Minister King was accompanied by a delegation nine (9) persons to the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. The delegation included three young St. Lucians. The St. Lucian delegation was the only CARICOM delegation, which included a youth representative, Mr. Neil Oculien as an official member of the state negotiating team.

2. During the Climate Change Conference, Prime Minister King held a special meeting with regional youth participating in that event. In engaging the Caribbean Youth, most of whom were representatives of the Caribbean Youth Environmental Network (CYEN), the Prime Minister gave his assurance that as the lead speaker for sustainable development on the quasi cabinet of CARICOM, he would advocate on their behalf at the regional level.

3. On January 18^th, 2010, Government staged a Youth Video Conference targeting young people in Saint St Lucia and the Diaspora. The Guests at that conference were: Ambassador June Soomer, Prime Minister Hon. Stephenson King; and Governor General Dame Pearlette Louisy. Young people were able to articulate directly to leaders at the highest level in Saint Lucia on their issues and concerns.

4. Prime Minister King and Minister of Youth & Sports Leonard Montoute participated in the first ever CARICOM Youth Summit in Suriname at the end of January, 2010. During the summit CARICOM Heads of Government deliberated on the report by the CARICOM Commission on Youth. The report provided a basis for the realities, ideas, and ideals of youth to be examined. The Prime Minister and Mr. Montoute were joined at that summit by a delegation of three young persons, including the General Secretary of the National Youth Council. Prime Minister King was one of only four (4) regional Heads who showed up to deliberate on the concerns of Caribbean youth.

5. In February, 2010, the Government through the Saint Lucia Development Bank launched an EC $3.5 Million Youth Enterprise Equity Fund. The establishment of the Youth Enterprise Equity Fund was meant to contribute towards the fulfillment of Government’s commitment and vision to encourage and facilitate the growth and development of Saint Lucia’s youth. The fund was activated through the transfer of funds from the Ministry of Finance.

Government and indeed the young people of Saint Lucia would be happy to relate to and embrace a National Youth Council that presents the ability to be proactive, forward thinking, dynamic, flexible and devoid of narrow political agendas. The National Youth Council’s President would be best advised to work towards developing the capacity of the organization to better respond to the needs of young persons in a more efficient manner. Mr. Edgar should also mount efforts to position the NYC so that it can be attractive to all youth regardless of their persuasions whether political or religious. This should be the agenda of the NYC President. It is unfortunate that Mr. Edgar continues to allow his tenor as President to be directed by script writers who have their own narrow political aspirations which is far removed from the interest of Saint Lucia’s youth.

Government will continue to demonstrate its commitment to the empowerment and sustainable development of Saint Lucia’s youth by putting in place policies, allocations and programmes which facilitate the ideals and aspirations of forward thinking young people. In this regard Government stands ready to work with all youth and youth organisations that are prepared to engage Government and display the standards and qualities of good governance, accountability and respect.

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