Youth leaders in Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados call for greater role in national policy

Government officials in Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados are advocating for increased youth involvement in national decision-making and policy development.

In Trinidad and Tobago, Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Phillip Watts announced plans to develop a new National Youth Policy through direct engagement with young citizens. The initiative will utilize national consultations and youth steering committees to identify community priorities. The government aims to transform existing youth centres in areas such as St James, Laventille, Los Bajos, and California into hubs for learning, entrepreneurship, and innovation. The strategy includes expanding skills training, certification programmes, and mentorship opportunities to prepare youth for a changing global economy.

In Barbados, CARICOM Youth Ambassador Christopher Brathwaite and Minister of State for Youth and Culture Senator Shane Archer emphasized the necessity of including young people in nation-building. Brathwaite warned that excluding the younger generation from national institutions could hinder the country's progress, urging youth to engage actively with leaders and challenge established thinking to help shape the future they will inherit.