Georgetown, Guyana, April 17, 2015: Incoming Dean of the CARICOM Youth Ambassador Corps, Klieon John, from St. Kitts and Nevis, paid a courtesy visit to CARICOM Secretary General, His ExcellencyAmbassador Irwin LaRocque in Guyana on Wednesday, 16 April, 2015. Also present was Assistant Secretary-General for Human and Social Development at the Secretariat, Ambassador Douglas Slater.

Mr. John was at the CARICOM Secretariat to attend the Twenty-Third Executive Meeting of the Regional Coordinating Mechanism of the Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP), where he presented on behalf of the Corps.

Ambassador LaRocque and Youth Ambassador John discussed a number of opportunities for the Corps such as increasing the level of visibility and new ways in which CYAs can become involved in Regional activities and increase their involvement in nation-building within their respective countries.

The Secretary-General said he was proud of the work that the Corps had been doing across the Region and hoped to see even more engagement both at national and Regional levels. He pledged his continued support and urged YouthAmbassadors to continue their efforts in representing youth interests at the highest decision-making levels.

Mr. John said that he was appreciative of the support given to the Ambassadors by the CARICOM Secretariat and that it was a reflection of CARICOM’s commitment to youth participation and development.

 We take our roles as Ambassadors very seriously and being invited to present at an executive level, being given audiences at the highest echelons of CARICOM, and given the chance to make significant input in youth-related policy decisions encourages us to do more in the interest of our peers and reminds us of the great deal that is expected of us” said John.

Ambassador LaRocque will meet with the CYAs in July via video conference during which various issues related to youth entrepreneurship and professional development will be discussed.