Development agenda Rethink youth
Delano Seiveright, Contributor
The front-page story of The Sunday Gleaner, January 23, titled 'Boot 'Babsy': youth leaders want portfolio shifted to education ministry', is an exaggeration, but it brings to the fore a number of issues surrounding youth development. I am certain that most Jamaicans were unaware of a 'National Youth Council' just as much as residents of Portmore are unaware of a 'Portmore Youth Council'. What many of us are aware of is the propensity for politics to slip into the halls of civil-society youth organisations. Notably, though, there should be no issue with a civil-society youth leader being involved with any political party as long as he is able to effectively separate his political views from representation of a non-partisan grouping.
SAD REALITY
A sad reality regarding discourse in Jamaica is the absence of logic and reason on far too many occasions. Discourse tends to lie heavily on emotion and 'gut feelings' rather than rationale. Youth issues discourse, over the years, tends to follow this trend. It is commonplace for discussion on youth issues to take place in isolation of critical matters including economic management, political history and justice. I have had countless experiences of youth leaders speaking glowingly on 'youth development' and an overwhelming desire to travel all over the world. The arguments tended to focus on redistributive ideas where, in essence, we must give a greater piece of a diminishing pie to the 'young people', oblivious of the extent of the economic crisis and the 'basket to carry water' reality for government ministers. Further yet promulgating the need for wealth creation, economic growth, mitigating bureaucracy, lowering and simplifying taxes and lowering interest rates are not usually issues of real concern.
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