Grenada to host inaugural National Youth Elections, parliamentarian to serve 2-year term

The Ministry of Youth and Sports of Grenada is all set to host its inaugural National Youth Elections. The elected Youth Parliamentarians will serve a two-year term, representing their respective constituencies and advocating on behalf of the country’s young people.

These elections will play an instrumental role in giving young people the opportunity to contribute to the policy direction of the country, aiming to develop a better future for nation in politics.

Notably, the division hosted a series of successful Parish-Level Youth Parliament Sittings during the months of May and June 2024. At this year’s Parish Level Youth Parliament, the youth parliamentarians held debate on several topics and shared their views on the measures that can be implemented to foster the future generation of the nation.

Crime and Education were the highlighting factors that were discussed at the Parish Level Youth Parliament. The young people shed light on the measures that can be taken to curb the rise of violence and violent related crimes in Grenada through the immediate reinstatement of Capital Punishment.

Following that, the youth parliamentarians also highlighted about the revision of educational curriculum so that the schools can focus more on technical, vocational, and soft skills training. The authorities stated that these changes will play a critical role in student’s academic success and will prepare them for every challenge that they will face in their future careers and personal lives.

Along with that, the young people also shared their views on the implementation of Universal Secondary Education (USE). As per the authorities, the Universal Secondary Education will play a crucial role in providing opportunities to the citizens of the state of Grenada to maximise their potential, contributing to the overall growth and development of the country.

The youth also exchanged significant talks on the collaboration of the Government with the stakeholders in order to strengthen and enforce existing firearms regulations to prevent the proliferation of illegal firearms and reduce gun-related violence.

Following this, the Division of Youth selected top candidates to participate in the first-ever National Youth Elections.

• St Andrew South East: Amanda Japal-George and Kevon George
• St Andrew South West: Zadie Barry and Kamran St Cyr
• St Andrew North East: Emerson Calliste and Kerri-Ann Marrast
• St Andrew North West: Dericka Samuel and Joshua Andall
• St Patrick East: Asha McEwen Sylvester and Shanida Shade
• St Patrick West: Zinzee Noel and Sean Williams
• St Mark: Akim Phillip, Twana Scott, and Kael Cyrus
• St John: Sashanna McVean and Elon James
• St David: Antonia Coutain and Tarique Miller
• St George North East: Kwesi Pop and Akim Williams
• St George North West: Jamal Mitchell and Angela Bowen
• St George South: Symphonie Lorde and Vernique Lewis
• St George South East: Juvanna Mark and Johnathan Mitchell
• Town of St George: Ramiah Griffith and Melissa Julien

The Ministry of Youth and Sports of Grenada noted that these youth parliamentarians will engage in several activities like a national general election in order to form campaigns to drum up support from the young people of the nation for a chance to represent them at the National Youth Parliament.

The elected Youth Parliamentarians will engage in regular National Youth Parliament sittings, debating actual bills passed in the national parliament. They will also participate in a comprehensive mentorship program, attend official engagements in their capacity as Youth Parliamentarians, and will have access to the Community Support Grant Fund to initiate community and youth development projects.

Also, each National Youth Parliamentarian will be given a stipend to assist in their National Youth Parliamentary Debates. And, for the same, voting will be conducted where young people who are interested in voting can elect their youth constituency representative.

In order to vote for their favourite youth parliamentarian, the young people have been asked to log into the youth election website youthelections.gov.gd to register and to get familiar with the National Youth Elections process.