Stakeholders Engage in Consultations to Strengthen National Youth Policy

The Department of Youth Development and Sports, through its Youth Unit, has commenced a four-day series of half-day closed stakeholder consultations aimed at strengthening the development and implementation of the National Youth Policy (NYP). The consultations form part of a collaborative effort to ensure that the policy reflects the perspectives and priorities of key national institutions involved in youth development.

The engagement sessions are being led by Hipolina Joseph, Deputy Programme Manager for Results-Based Management and Strategic Planning at the CARICOM Secretariat in Guyana, alongside Youth Director Lavorne Verdant-Desir. They are supported by Human Resource Manager Georgelin Christopher and Jonathan Chalon. Together, the team is facilitating discussions with representatives from several ministries and agencies to gather input that will inform the refinement of the policy framework.

On Wednesday, 4 March, the team met with officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Education. Participants from the Ministry of Home Affairs included Permanent Secretary Ricky Quinlan, who has responsibility for Crime Prevention, Conflict Resolution, and Persons with Disabilities; Inspector Brigette Algodel of the Community Policing Unit; Superintendent Stephen Victorin of the Southern Division; Montelle Felix; and Nicolette Jules of the Attorney General’s Chambers.

The consultations focused on the structure and priorities of the National Youth Policy, which is organised around eight strategic pillars designed to guide national youth development efforts:

Education and Lifelong Learning

Economic Participation

Health and Well-Being, Safety, and Protection for Youth

Safety, Security, and Peaceful Co-Existence

Participation, Rights, and Empowered Citizenship

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Mass Media

The Environment, Climate Change, and Disaster Risk Reduction

Mainstreaming Youth Priorities Across All Youth Development Sectors

Both consultation sessions were marked by strong engagement from participants, who shared perspectives grounded in their institutional mandates and experiences working with young people.

Permanent Secretary Ricky Quinlan welcomed the collaborative nature of the consultations, noting that effective policy development requires inter-agency cooperation.

“It’s a good initiative, and I support it. Too often we have insular approaches in the Public Service. We know very well that we need one another to achieve our mandate. This collaborative approach—an all hands-on-deck effort—allows us to support one another in the quest to develop a stronger policy and strategic plan.”

Similarly, Oneeka Birid, speaking on behalf of the Department of Education, highlighted the importance of partnership in advancing youth development initiatives.

“When you talk about human capacity development, education, and youth development, this is definitely a step in the right direction. Engagements like this strengthen networking and collaboration so that we can come together and put forward the best possible framework for our future generation.”

Throughout the discussions, stakeholders emphasised the importance of integrated approaches to addressing issues affecting youth. Representatives from the Ministry of Home Affairs underscored the need for enhanced collaboration across departments, particularly in areas such as crime prevention, conflict resolution, and community engagement. They also advocated for policies that recognise and respond to the needs of vulnerable groups.

Participants agreed that the National Youth Policy should remain adaptive and responsive, capable of evolving alongside shifting social and economic conditions. The dynamic exchanges demonstrated a shared commitment among stakeholders to ensure that the policy becomes a practical and impactful instrument for youth empowerment and national development.

The consultation series will continue throughout the week. On Thursday, 5 March, the team will meet with the Ministry of Tourism’s Department at 9:00 a.m., followed by consultations with James Belgrave of the Micro Enterprise Development Fund at 1:00 p.m. The consultations will conclude on Friday, 6 March, with sessions involving the Ministry of Housing and Local Government at 9:00 a.m. and the Department of Agriculture at 1:00 p.m.

These engagements represent an important step in strengthening cross-sector collaboration and ensuring that the National Youth Policy reflects a comprehensive, inclusive, and forward-looking approach to youth development.