Wednesday, August 29 2012

THE EDITOR: I write to you to highlight something I have not been seeing for the 50th Anniversary of Independence celebrations to date.

This is the lack of honour or appreciation of youth that have made significant contributions to Trinidad and Tobago. One particular young person that stands out to me is a young man Adrian Winter. I remember him being appointed to steer the Youth Advisory Committee for the Fifth Summit of the Americas and CHOGM Youth Fora.

My daughter had an opportunity of being part of the both fora and what a lasting impression he left on her and I believe by extension all the youth who attended these fora. After doing some research on him after seeing a news clipping with an amazing speech presentation, I was made to understand by a friend of mine at the time that he’d been involved in youth work for a number of years.

This appointment made him actually the first ever Youth Chairman of the OAS youth forum and the seventh Chairman of the Commonwealth Youth Forum. That’s significant to say the least. Imagine a youth from Trinidad and Tobago reaching these levels. A country of 1.3 million people commonly described as a dot in the ocean and these young people who make these significant impacts and make us proud are not honoured. I call upon the Government and particularly the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Child Development to do something to honour these young people. Not only Mr Winter but a lot of other youth who would have stood out.

Remember the youth are the ones who will one day become our future leaders. Let’s honour them and honour them like Trinibagonians know how to.



SARAH MAHARAJ

via e-mail