National YouthCommission Appointed by ExCo
Long-term policies and programmes to benefityoung people will continue to be implemented by the newly-formedNational Youth Commission (NYC), whose members were recently appointedby the Governor-in-Council. The council has already met for theirfirst briefing with the former minister responsible for youth,and is expected to soon elect a chairperson of the group.
The primary responsible of the Commission,comprised of a cross-section of the community is to monitor theimplementation of the National Youth Policy. This group takesover from the Youth Policy Task Force, which took the policy fromits inception, research and public information phases throughto its revision and acceptance by government last year.
Expressing his pleasure at the appointmentof the NYC, Hon. Frank McField, Minister for Community Services,Women's Affairs and Youth, said, "I am pleased to know thatthese dedicated individuals, all with links to the wider community,are involved. Proactively addressing the myriad issues regardingyoung people, especially their positive development into adulthood,is a national priority. It is essential that we concentrate andintegrate our efforts into pro-social programmes, that is thatwe provide tangible incentives and rewards for those young peoplethat uphold and positively influence the social order."
The NYC is comprised of some former membersof the National Youth Policy Task Force, representatives of theCayman Islands Youth Assembly, the religious community, the businesscommunities, educators, social workers, and other government andprivate sector providers of services to young people.
They are: the Deputy Director of Youth andSports Katherine Whittaker and the department's Youth ServicesCo-ordinator, James Myles; former NYP Task Force members LennonChristian, Winston Hayle, Pauline Miller, Joan West, Edgar Gibson,Ramona Ritch and Rev. Rudolph Willis are also serving on the board.Also serving are Pastor Al Ebanks, President of the Cayman IslandsMinister's Association; youth leader Cassandra Ebanks; Wil Pineau,representing the Chamber of Commerce; Doss Solomon of the Ministryof Education, Human Resources & Culture; Social Worker DebbieAnn Whittaker; District Commissioner Kenny Ryan; Justice of thePeace Jenny Manderson; Community Development Officer SamanthaRameriz; RCIP Inspector Daniel Lee; and community member VelmaPowery Hewitt.
In some instances, a deputy or designatecan be nominated by the council. Additionally, there will be fiverepresentatives from the Cayman Islands Youth Assembly once itis established next year. A permanent position of Secretary tothe Council is now in the process of being filled.
Adding his appreciation at the progressof the youth initiatives, Permanent Secretary Carson Ebanks, JP,who chaired the National Youth Policy Task Force, said, "TheCayman Islands now lead the way for the Commonwealth Caribbeancountries who have been instructed to produce working youth policies.The effort to produce our policy came principally from local youngpeople and youth workers, and is in itself a testament to thecapabilities of our youth, and a model for other Commonwealthcountries to follow."
The formation of the National Youth Councilis another step in the interest of youth. Another significantachievement has been the inclusion of youth in an actual departmentfor the first time (with the formation of the Youth and SportsDepartment a year ago).
The activation of the Commission of Enquiryinto Youth Issues was also realised, and the first report - onyouth violence - is to be produced shortly.
The establishment of a Youth Assembly anda Youth Passport to track the achievements and activities of youngpeople are also planned for next year. All of these initiativesare called for in the National Youth Policy as primary instrumentsof change for young people.
Mr. Ebanks added that two important recentdevelopments were the launching of the "Youth Flex"show which airs on Wednesday afternoons on Radio Cayman; and participationby a young Caymanian, Miss Melanie McField, as delegate at theCommonwealth Youth Forum in Australia.
For more information on the National YouthPolicy or the National Youth Commission, please contact Miss KatherineWhittaker or Mr. James Myles at the Department of Youth and Sports,Tower Building. Telephone 949-7082 or e-mail katherine.whittaker@gov.ky.