The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information plans to create a Youth Advisory Board in order to deepen its engagements with the nation’s young people. State Minister, Hon. Floyd Green, says the Board, whose members will include young people, is intended to involve them in the Ministry’s decision-making process on matters relating to them.

Mr. Green explained that as State Minister, his role includes formulating youth policies and programmes.

He indicates, however, that this engagement can be further enriched by the inputs of young people, with whom these proposals can be discussed in arriving at a final position, going forward.

Mr. Green says it is important to “engage more young people who feel that they have a voice” and ensure that “their voices are heard.”

“Our vision, as the youth Ministry, is to provide that enabling platform, for youth to do well, (and) for youth to be engaged and…empowered,” he adds.

The State Minister was speaking at a meeting of Youth Empowerment Officers, including managers of the Youth Information Centres islandwide, at the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport in New Kingston, on April 8.

Mr. Green said the Government wants to ensure that there is buy-in from young people of the programmes and policies being developed.

This, he explained, is important in light of the fact that young people comprise a significant percentage of the society, and if they are not engaged, “then a lot of what we plan…will not be achieved.”

Mr. Green also advised that the Ministry is seeking to revamp the Youth Information Centres by redirecting their focus on innovation, engagement and entrepreneurship.

This, he pointed out, was in keeping with the Government’s thrust to grow the economy and put young people to work.

“We want to see these centres blossom into creative spaces where people can come if they have a business idea, want to find information, or just want somebody else to sit and talk to and get an idea,” Mr. Green added.