LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Encouraging the youth to vote is crucial

Thursday,  April 21, 2005

Dear Sir,

The issue of encouraging the youth to vote is a worthwhile one. I would like to thank the editor for dedicating an editorial to this crucial topic during election time. 

During my research as a candidate for the upcoming election I was rather surprised to learn that in Bodden Town the average voter is a 50 year old female (obtained from www.electionsoffice.ky). The importance of the youth vote cannot be underestimated and I would also like to take this opportunity to encourage our young people to become active in the electoral process and let their voices be heard. 

I am often approached by young people who describe a sense of disillusionment with the current system. In fact, I have had community leaders say to a group of young persons “it is not your turn yet”. The implication of this type of statement is that it encourages apathy among the younger voter. The inference appears to be that you are not able to participate in the affairs of this country until you are ready for a second career or even retirement. What is the average age of candidates running for office? 

Just as the female vote is underrepresented in the current election I would also argue that the youth vote is appallingly underrepresented. By my own personal estimation if the average age of candidates if 55+ it is obvious that many youth issues will not be given priority or properly represented. In fact, whilst the political experience of these persons has some value many are not able to relate to the struggles and challenges of our younger generation. 

Recently I asked a politician his position regarding beach access on a local talk show. This seasoned individual commented that “when I was a child 40 years ago we could freely access the beach”. The fact that this person had to draw upon an experience from several generations ago and honestly thinks that they are applicable in the Cayman of today was rather telling.

Many of these same candidates are not fully able to appreciate the technological advances of the day. You may be asking how does this affect our lives in real terms? The allocation of budgetary resources and funds are a direct result of what issues you politicians think are important. For example, why are we not able to have online legislation that could be purchased with ease? 

Many are not fully able to appreciate the complex nature of city management and government administration. The result of this has been a hodgepodge of roads that are not solving our traffic congestion problem. Another example is the idea of knowledge sharing – this often lost on older individuals. So much more would be achieved if we were not concerned about who would get the credit or become the next national hero in Cayman.

It is a truism that many older individuals tend to be more rigid in their approach to the acceptance and implementation of new ideas and initiatives. Many are not able to move beyond the status quo or dogmatic opinions that have dictated the way in which this country has operated for far too long. We need not look any further than constitutional advancement to see the reality of this.

The sad fact that we do not teach civic participation as a basic element of our educational curriculum is another prime example. Our young people are released from high school without a sense of how participatory government works and how they can play a vital role in the process. We have seen in many other countries the importance of capturing the youth vote through initiatives such as ‘Rock the Vote’. It took a massive educational process, however, in 2004 51percent of 18-29 year olds turned out to vote.

Many of our young people are not apathetic and are very concerned about public issues. However there is a breakdown between caring about the issues and feeling that they can be involved in affecting any real change. As a younger candidate, part of my role is to convince young people that on May 11th their have an opportunity to make their voices be heard through their vote. Their potential impact on policymaking and electing candidates that will adequately address their concerns cannot be underrated. 

“The death of democracy is not likely to be an assassination from ambush. It will be a slow extinction from apathy, indifference and undernourishment.” - Robert Maynard Hutchins (1899-1977).

Sandra Catron (L.LB Hons.)
Political Candidate for
Bodden Town

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