Youth Council head Janae Campbell: 'Tobagonians only have mouth for some things'

Tobago Youth Council president Janae Campbell has criticised Tobagonians for not speaking out on serious issues involving the island’s development.

Campbell was a panellist in a virtual discussion on Monday night reviewing the six-six deadlock in the Tobago House of Assembly (THA).

The event, One People Together, was hosted by Tobago CivilNET.

Responding to a question about how the voting population could get involved in the mediation process if such action were seriously considered by the PNM and PDP, Campbell said Tobagonians rarely speak out on issues of importance.

“I know somebody might be upset with me for saying this but I, personally, find that we, as Tobagonians, are to some extent, very docile,” she said. “I think that sometimes we, as Tobagonians, only have mouth, to use the vernacular, for certain things.

“But when is time for actual action and to let your voices be heard in a diplomatic way and in a way that would actually reap fruit, sometimes, we don’t present ourselves.”

To demonstrate her point, Campbell referred to a recent political forum hosted by TV6 at Signal Hill Secondary School. She said she knew young people who attended the event and were anxious to participate.

“They were anticipating an opportunity to get their voices heard and thought they would go up there and see a crowd of Tobagonians ready to ask questions of the people from the political parties.”

But Campbell said the young people were “utterly disappointed” at the turnout.

She believes opportunities are always there but people, for whatever reason, do not always take advantage of them.

“Many people comment on social media, but when is time to actually get it done in a diplomatic way and come out of your comfort zone, we don’t present ourselves generally.

“So the question should not always be what can be done, or what those in power can do. The question should be asked: ‘What can we do as Tobagonians?’”

She believes the time has come to “rally our troops.

“Let us become mobilised and demand things. We don’t have to wait until some organisation comes and does it. We, as Tobagonians, need to have that willpower.”

Campbell said some young people, owing to the THA impasse, are expressing an interest in politics.

“Young people are airing their concerns about the impasse. But the majority of young people are not interested.”

She does not blame them for the lack of interest, because the elders do not encourage it.

“I am of the firm belief that the elders don’t set a positive example for us...Sometimes it is difficult to get into that political arena because the older persons shut you down, especially when you have a view that is opposed to their view.”

She said even though young people might have innovative ideas, “There are persons who literally shut you down as a young person, and that is the raw truth.”