Tobago youth want more involvement in national life

Tobago youths wants more details about a National Youth Policy for Trinidad and Tobago, more coordination with young people in Tobago, more incentives for business and innovation and job opportunities for young people, and increased involvement by the youth in dealing with violence, sex education and mental health issues.

Hakeem Dick, representing the Signal Hill Police Youth Club at the National Youth consultation at the Scarborough Library last Thursday night, recommended that Tobago youths be given authoritative positions in sports, education and other sectors that affect young people directly.

Also speaking at the event, which was hosted by the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs, Jalani Williams, representing the Signal Hill Youth Development Centre, recommend implementation of more programmes to improve the behaviour and attitude of boys in schools

“When many of them enter high school, they give problems, making it hard for them to settle and learn. When they finally decided to settle down to learn, everyone in the school already have them down as troublemakers which will make it hard for them to get opportunities to go forward in life,’ said Williams.

Crystal Edwards, former member of the Tobago Youth Council, called on the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs to turn the ideas from young people in Trinidad and Tobago into action. “The cries of young people over the years have remained the same and the fact that the education system is failing us is serious, since they (authorities) refuse to use a multifaceted approach to see what students are striving for.

“The hard part is using your money to finish university and then you’re being told the jobs are there, but the public service is not functioning as it supposed to,” Edwards said.

She encouraged young Tobagonians to try to improve their livelihoods without expecting help from government.

Leshawn Osmond, representing the Church of God Youth, called for innovative ways to reach out to youths who have pulled away from society, recommending that youth offcails move in on liminig blocks and reclaim them.

“I would like to see more youth caravan in the schools,” he said.

Other contributors at the forum spoke about mental health challenges for young people in dealing with school and life challenges. They also suggested the youth policy include more activities for special needs youths, and that more information on how to deal with special needs children be made available to students and parents.

They also called for a realistic approach for sex education in schools, and serious action be taken against bullying in schools, beyond the creation of a policy.

“What are we doing about deviant children at school other than YTC?” asked participant Cindy Andrews, who also noted the lack of job security for graduates.

“We are constantly complaining about the brain drain problem but there are no job opportunities provided for us,” she said, suggesting that use be made of young people to help diversify the economy and that they also be encouraged to enter the political arena.

Youth representatives from the Tobago Pan-thers, Belle Garden Youth Club, Signal Hill Youth Club, Tobago Youth Ambassadors, Oshun Trim and Nikoli Edwards, Vice Chairperson Police Advocacy and Projects, of the Commonwealth Youth Council, shared their views and suggestions on what the policy should entail to promote youth development.

Edwards said youth were not being appreciated and supported enough and recommended a youth award programme.