Dear Editor,
From the age of Independence, we were told that “Youths are the Future” which signified that young people must be kept in the vanguard of national development. Over the years, we have seen waning involvement of youth at the political level. It appears that national leaders are only interested in courting the youth vote when its elections and not providing all the essentials for a voting population that are mostly under the age of 40.
The recently concluded process of electing two youths to sit on the rights of the child commission is an example of the state entities willingness to suppress the voices of our young people. The governing party through its younger cadre have become the light bearers for undemocratic and oppressive behaviors. Attempts by the Personal Assistant to the Minister of Parliamentary affairs and Director of Youth from the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Sport to circumvent the democratic process of selecting youths to the national commission on the rights of the child has been appalling. A letter was circulated by the Minister’s personal assistant on her behalf to extend the deadline beyond the date agreed by members of the cluster. Furthermore, the personal assistant to the Minister along with his cohorts in an intrusive manner was demanding the rules changed to facilitate the election of the Minister’s
The Director of Youth in his capacity, has published a letter
The effort of the cluster leader Mr. Clayon Halley must be commended for his tenacity as the leader of the cluster given the obstacles and placed in front of him by the Director of Youth in their attempts to derail the democratic process. Aluta Continua (the struggle continues).
