(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana)     Secretary General of the Caribbean Community Ambassador Irwin LaRocque will host a social media interaction with youth across CARICOM on Tuesday between 6:00 and 8:00pm. The main topic for discussion will be the CARICOM Youth Development Action Plan (CYDAP) which was developed to guide national policy, integrated planning and action regarding youth.

The Action Plan gives effect to the recommendation of the Declaration of Paramaribo on the Future of Youth in the Caribbean Community; complements the implementation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy; and supports mainstreamed adolescent and youth development for the age group 10-29 years.

The main objective for the social media interaction is to give the average young person a chance to “interact” with the CARICOM Secretary General and share their opinions and views while allowing the Secretary General to re-affirm his commitment to the Region’s youth. It will also expose young people across the Region to the work of the CARICOM Secretariat and its organs. The interaction will serve to highlight the progress made by the CARICOM Secretariat in the area of youth engagement and development and provide updates on the CARICOM Reform Process.

Prior to the social media interaction the CARICOM Secretariat will host a Youth Forum on the CARICOM Youth Development Action Plan On Monday 20 January and Tuesday 21 January. The objectives of the Regional Youth Forum are to develop youth and environment friendly educational materials and a tool kit to support stakeholders in the development and implementation of CYDAP and develop youth-friendly and gender responsive marketing strategies and communication materials to promote the CYDAP.