Youth PM calls on Gov’t to Commit to National Youth Development and Security

UNC Youth Arm Chairman Nicholas Morris

The Post of Youth Prime Minister exists in over 25 Commonwealth Nations with the method of election and appointment varying.

Having been elected as our Nation’s first Youth Prime Minister in the Youth Elect TT Youth Elections which spanned over four months of public debate and voting, my commitment and duty is to ensure Youth are Equal Partners in National Development.

Today young people comprise over 51 percent of the global population (under the age of 35) while over 300,00 make up our national population. Youth are a clearly defined group with different niche markets of views and ideas which when added up become sustainable contributions to national development.

The closure of the Ministry of Youth is quite unfortunate as throughout the Commonwealth due to the increased commitment to Youth Development many nations have been using such ministries as tools to foster youth engagement and encourage nation building.

At present the safety and well being of our young people are at risk given the number of abuse cases and criminal activities that are emerging which contain youth as victims or suspects; at times both.

The Ministry of Youth would have provided the perfect tool to deal with such issues given the scope of programs it once executed. The presence of a Ministry of Youth in our national framework also allows for the harvesting and cultivation of new ideas, new innovations and new energy which will contribute to our national economic and social growth as a county.

As Youth Prime Minister and Former Commonwealth Youth Representative I sincerely call on Government to rethink the closure of the Ministry of Youth as it is the only way in which our National Youth Policy can be executed. The Government should also seek to review and implement the National Youth Commission as well as re-introduce the National Youth Council as these organs are key to mobilizing and representing the different groups of youth within Trinidad and Tobago.

Youth are not only the future but are the present and deserve to be equal partners in Sustainable National Development.

Yours in Service
Nicholas Morris.