And like the vet association, another interest group is calling on its minister to please stand up.
RISE Belize - which represents youths - put out a press release today requesting an open and constructive dialogue regarding the current and future direction of the Department of Youth Services.
As has been well publicized, the new Minister Anthony Mahler plans to shake things up because the department was spending most of its budget paying salaries with nothing left for actual programs for its clients who are youths.
So now, RISE is calling Minister Mahler and his minister of state an opportunity to open dialogue because they believe that the youths should have a voice in a ministry designed to assist and address their concerns.
They told us more about it Via zoom, as to why they deserve a seat at the table.
Ashley Longford, Youth Leader, Rise Belize
"So, really, this is a coalition between youth led organization advocates networks because honestly, we if you saw it on the news recently they're going through a lot of revamping a lot of transitioning happening. So it was the right time for us as a youth organization fit from YLAB also and so Marissa's from BYM she's a youth ambassador as well. It's time for us to come together and show that we are willing to have some sort of partnership or collaboration with the department and see that, you know, youths need to be on the table, that we're not also taken as tokens So we need to be on the table and we need to start, creating better decisions for our country and for the youths in Belize. So that was the reason why that we started to have rise Belize and then the name Rise Belize it was a national coalition between different youth led organisations and advocates."
Marissa Cervantes, Youth Leader, Rise Belize
"I think we have always had a voice we just really didn't have a platform. And to be fair, social media has been one of our most useful, platforms. We are very tech savvy. We've always, engage with one another. It's just, you know, we came together. It was very natural for us to do so, as Ashley mentioned, I mean, just timings . And I think at the end of the day really and truly, we, we see what's happening in the Belizean society large, adults complain that, you know the spirit 
of, of volunteerism is not so, profound that it as it you know once was. But I think we as a dedicated group, realised the need for us to simply put party politics aside and focus on nation building. And we want to see a future where young people can actively participate. We don't want to only criticise. We want to be a part of the solution as well. And I think we're very prepared. And we, of course, extend the opportunity for Minister Anthony Mahler and Minister Devyn Daly to accept our invitation so that we can find some type of middle ground, because really and truly, when it comes to policy, it it really directly impacts us, the young people, our everyday lifestyle. And so I think, it's time that we really come together and try to find a balance and, and, and share a vision, one where young people, can enjoy a future that is more participatory when it comes to democracy."
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