As one would be able to notice, in last week’s edition of The Anguillian, the paper was full of articles dealing with youth including the entire front page. Firstly, I also feel the need to take part in congratulating the students on their academic accolades so I will join in by saying that all who did well on their exams should be proud and I wish them much success in the future. With the National Youth Conference right around the corner, this is now a chance to make things happen.

Now, a forum in which youth can be taken seriously and have their ideas heard is upon us and it is indeed an exciting time. This past week I had lunch with a friend in which we discussed some of the issues facing Anguilla’s youth as well as the way in which society reacts to youth. Although I will have to agree with Lenox Proctor’s comments in this week’s paper about a general buzz in Anguilla about young people, I must also agree with another opinion.
he time to stop talking and doing is now. The lip service needs to stop as talking about issues and not providing solutions or taking action is pointless. This week on Tuesday, September 18, I am leaving Anguilla to attend a sub-regional meeting on Responding to Child Abuse in our Communities. This meeting with cover the convention on the Rights of the Child and is being facilitated by members of the UNICEF staff. Other colleagues from Anguilla will be travelling as well such as Rhonda Connor, Chief Education Officer, Leroy Hill, President of the Anguilla Teacher’s Union, Jacqueline Connor, Education Officer (Multi-Professional Support Services) Carlton Pickering Sr., CEO KCNTV, and Sanford Richardson, Commissioner of Department of Social Services. My job will be to cover the news but we will also take part in active dialogue about how to confront this important issue. The Rights of the Child and their overall well being is of grave importance because if they are not taught at a young age to take care of themselves, they will never acquire those essential life skills. Moreover, when they get older and have children they will not be trained to care for them either and thus promoting a viscous cycle of improper child rearing. We all plan to actively participate and hopefully bring back important information that can be helpful in terms of providing solutions and action taking methods so that this serious issue throughout the Caribbean can be addressed properly.
Indeed, the issue of youth development is getting much attention these days. I strongly encourage people to become active in either a small or large way. My friend at lunch suggested that she would be available to give children a ride to the new tennis facility in Blowinng Point if they do not have transportation when the Anguilla Tennis Academy’s After School Programme begins. This is a perfect example of how people can make a difference. Isn’t it time for you to start?

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