Youth leaders got an up close personal audience with Caricom Secretary General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque who met with the youngsters during a closed door session at the British Colonial Hotel Thursday.
Ambassador LaRocque held candid closed door discussions with the youth leaders who represented various leadership organisations in the country including representatives from the College of The Bahamas Union of Students (COBUS), Youth Ambassadors and the Youth Council.
He reminded the youth about the important role they play in shaping the future of the country and the region.
The ambassador also expressed his desire to strengthen The Bahamas’ relationship with Caricom.
“I have a made a point to come here and I will make it point to come back from time to time when my schedule allows but I have to come because I want to make sure Caricom is all inclusive of all its member states and all its people,” he said.
“Perhaps we haven’t done enough from where I sit to ensure that inclusiveness is there and in meetings that I have had since being here, I feel a sense of commitment to our inter regional arrangement and I feel a quest in the contacts that I have had to build our Caribbean civilisation.”
Mr. LaRocque’s visit also included a courtesy call on Prime Minister Perry Christie, whom he met with ahead of his session with the youth.
This is the secretary general’s first visit to The Bahamas since taking office last August.
Director at the Ministry of Youth Darren Turnquest said the ambassador’s visit to The Bahamas is especially important at a time when the country’s youth engagement at Caricom is increasing.
“Caricom at this particular time has something called the Caricom Youth Development Action Plan and in the Division of Youth we look at both the Commonwealth Plan of Action and the Caricom Youth Development Action Plan to determine how we are going to move the situation of youth in our country and more importantly the situation of youth in the region forward where young people are able to have access and opportunities at their fingertips,” Mr. Turnquest said.
The ambassador left The Bahamas today.
