The Belize National Youth Development Policy has been in production
for over a decade, and today the working document has finally reached the stage
where it will be developed and implemented, planners hope in just three months
time. But what does this mean for the youths of Belize? Today 7News spoke with
twenty three year old Kenrick Williams, YFF’s Programme Development Manager
and Dr. Heather Johnson, a representative for the CARICOM Secretariat.
Kenrick Williams, YFF – Youth Programme Officer
“We’ve been consulting with young people across the country
to say is this what you said, is this in line with what you need, is this what
we should be doing as youth service providers and getting their input because
over time some issues have changed, some of the priorities for young people
might change. A couple years ago it might have been land titling and housing
and today it is employment, I need to feed my family I need to feed myself.
And so we just want to ensure that what we have on hand is exactly what the
situation is.
From there we move this policy to Cabinet seeking their approval and from
there again we set coordination mechanisms for implementing this policy. More
importantly is monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of what we’re
doing. So we’re going to make sure that year one we have achieved set 
targets and year two we have also achieved those set targets.”
Dr. Heather Johnson, CARICOM Secretariat
“But the point is that young people right now are undergoing some
very serious challenges and unless we can do that then in terms of their own
and wellbeing there is going to be a problem and therefore the region will suffer
because they are the ones who have to really take over the region.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
I know the policy has been in the making for like ten years. There is something
finally in hand for them to work with, how important is it for them to approach
this issue in a coordinated fashion?
Dr. Heather Johnson,
“Not only a coordinated fashion but also a participatory fashion with
specific regard to the policy. There has been some research done which informs
the policy. So young people must be a part of the decision making in terms of
the policy itself but they have to be a part of the implementation as well.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
Is there a target as to when this policy will be implemented?
Kenrick Williams,
“Yes. As a matter of fact we are looking to move the policy for adaptation
in Cabinet by August because we’re doing the consultations now. Once that
is adapted we have a plan of action first and thereafter in September bringing
all the youth service providers nationally to look at implementation and the
role of each institution because it is again a coordinated mechanism for all
of the youth service providers countrywide; youth groups, youth clubs, churches
–all of us to come together and say this is what we need to do to address
the issues affecting young people.”
Dr. Heather Johnson,
“The message I’m bringing here is that young people are a priority
for the CARICOM Heads of Governments. There is a commission on youth development
that was set up by the Heads of Governments to look at the situation of youths
and we really hope that the recommendations of the commission will be taken
very seriously because the special session of Heads of Governments that will
be convened, they have allocated a whole day to young people which shows the
importance of young people just to hear that report. So young people must know
what is in the report because they are the ones who are going to have to advocate
and pressure for the recommendations to be implemented.”
The Belize National Youth Development Policy addresses critical issues
such as crime, HIV and Aids, unemployment and education.
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