Barbadian Youths Told: Make Use Of CARICOM Opportunities!

A cross-section of this island’s youth have been encouraged to make the most of the opportunities afforded them under the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, especially as it relates to the Free Movement of Persons.

These comments came from Barbados’ Ambassador to CARICOM, Robert ‘Bobby’ Morris, as he delivered the feature address at a seminar for secondary school students on the topic: Barbadian Youth - An Integral Part of CARICOM’s Development. 

It was held today at the Barbados Community College, as part of outreach efforts by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, to educate this island’s young people about the Caribbean Community. 

The event comes as a prelude to Barbados’ hosting of the 36th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) from July 2-4.

Ambassador Morris told the students that if they were to fully benefit from what CARICOM offered they needed to secure building blocks for the future by making sure they possessed the requisite Caribbean Vocational Qualifications from the Barbados Accreditation Council. 

He said that these qualifications would allow them to establish a business or provide a service in another jurisdiction and, thereby, earn a better living. He urged them to “get out of their comfort zones” and to “think regionally and globally” as far as employment opportunities and exporting their skills were concerned. 

Ambassador Morris encouraged the young persons to enlarge their world view “in diverse contexts”, by interfacing with young people from other cultures across the region.

He further contended that Barbadian youth needed to examine their self-image and be better motivated and self-reliant, at both the national and regional levels if they were to realise their true potential.

Students were drawn from the Graydon Sealy Secondary School, Parkinson Memorial school, the Alleyne School, Springer Memorial Secondary and the Alexandra Secondary School. Barbados’ Youth Ambassadors Mosiah Hoyte and Sade Jemmott also gave the students advice on how to cope with some of life’s challenges.

A National Youth Parliament will be staged on Friday, June 26, in the House of Assembly, beginning at 10:00 a.m., as part of the ongoing public education campaign for the youth.