Honourable Shawn Richards
During his two hour presentation on Issues last Thursday, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Youth, Sports and culture the Honorable Shawn K Richards told the nation that a new policy for youth would be ready by December 2016.
The youth policy speaks to the rights, responsibilities and expectations of our young people. “It will guide them as to what are the areas we need to provide for our young people… and the policy is being developed with the majority of import coming from our young people because the policy is all about them. The policy is being worked on. It is about what they can expect in terms of an education… in terms of jobs, and getting assistance from the government on different matters. Similarly it is about what we expect from them as young people. What type of involvement you expect than to have in society,” declared the Youth Minister.
Richards said the policy will be developed along these general guidelines and that the Youth Policy will have a strategic plan that will encompass government resourced for young people, in order for them to develop and be empowered. Richards said a number of activities would be development during November which is designated as youth month including the 25 most remarkable teens on the 10th November, an island wide bike wide and consultations designed to operationalize the youth policy initiative.