CARICOM YOUTH AMBASSADORS S.V.G ISSUE 1, EDITION 1
Saturday 1st March, 2014 marked the official welcoming of the
CARICOM Youth Ambassadors’ S.V.G Committee’s newest
members!
When the Youth Organization – a branch of the Caribbean
Community (CARICOM) – made the appeal for interested
candidates, 10 males and females enthusiastically answered the
call to serve and positively contribute to youth development and
raising awareness for regional integration.
,
At the initiation ceremony held at 3:00 p.m. at the
Beachcombers Hotel, Ms. Gweneth Anthony, a
representative from the Youth Affairs Department,
urged the newest members to be an example to their
peers and not allow others to belittle them because
of their tender ages.
Meanwhile, the Minister of National Mobilization,
Social Development, Family, Gender Affairs, Persons
with Disabilities and Youth, the Honourable
Frederick Stephenson, challenged the Committee
not to become complacent and view themselves as
just another ordinary organization, as the
Committee is a part of something meaningful. He
pledged his continued support in the group’s
endeavours.
Some of the newly initiated members were also
elected to serve as executive members in an internal
election held earlier this year.
The dynamic and diverse committee is charged with
the responsibility of advancing the efforts in
creating a united, internationally-competitive
Caribbean Community by empowering adolescents
and young adults.
CARICOM MALE AND FEMALE YOUTH AMBASSADORS – KISHORE
SHALLOW (FURTHEST RIGHT) AND TAMIRA BROWNE (FURTHEST LEFT) -
ALONG WITH THEIR 2013/14 COMMITTEE AND EXECUTIVE MEMBERS.
CARICOM YOUTH AMBASSADORS’ S.V.G WELCOMES NEW COMMITTEE MEMBERS!
CARICOM YOUTH AMBASSADORS S.V.G COMMITTEE
ISSUE 1, EDITION 1
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NEW CARICOM CHAIR “…and in my term as Chairman of CARICOM, one of the
issues...that I want dealt with…is the deleterious effects
of climate change.”
The Honourable, Dr. Ralph
Gonsalves, on January 1,
2014 began his reign as
Chair of CARICOM.
On January 6, 2014 – in his
first meeting with
CARICOM Heads serving in
this capacity – Dr.
Gonsalves outlined that he
would use his six-month
term as Chairman to
address the deleterious
effects that climate changes
are having on the social and
economic aspects of the
region. This came in light of
the detrimental effects of
the weather trough that left
its mark in St. Lucia,
Dominica and St. Vincent
and the Grenadines during
the 2013 Christmas period,
which claimed almost 20
lives in the Windward
Islands.
“And in my term as Chair of
CARICOM, this is one of the
issues…that I want dealt
with…in a continually
structured way, has to do
with the deleterious effects
of climate change and to get the
requisite responses from the
international community in relation
to this matter,” Gonsalves stated.
Gonsalves presided over his first
meeting of Heads of Government of
the CARICOM at the 25th
Intersessional Meeting held in St.
Vincent and the Grenadines.
Dr. Gonsalves replaces the Prime
Minister of the Republic of Trinidad
and Tobago, Kamla Persad-Bissessar,
as Chair of CARICOM.
Chair of CARICOM, the Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves.
FLAVOURS OF CARICOM
Sayings and proverbs from across
the region:
ADOPTED FROM WIWORDS.COM
C.Y.A (S.V.G) COMMITTEE WELCOMES OUR
“Cat a ketch rat, but he a teef he massa fish.”
Good and evil often come from the same source.
“A crab never forget he hole.”
There’s no place like home.
“Alligator shouldn’t call hog long mout.”
You shouldn’t criticize others when you have the same faults.
“Before monkey buy trousers, him affi know weh fi put him
tail.”
Make sure the fashion of others suit you before you rush
to adopt them.
“Cock mout kill cock.”
Choose your words with care lest you draw unpleasant or
unwanted attention to yourself.
CARICOM YOUTH AMBASSADORS’ S.V.G COMMITTEE ISSUE 1, EDITION 1
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PANELISTS (left to right): Mr. Ayodele
Pompey, Counsel Mikhail Charles, Empress
Modupe Olunfunmi, Mr. Terral Mapp and Dr.
St. Clair Thomas.
“Free up the Herb?” creates a stir!
Section of the audience at ‘Free up the Herb?’
listening keenly to Mr. Ayodele Pompey,
presenting on the Christian Perspective.
Following sporadic debates across
the Caribbean’s small economies
about the decriminalization of
cannabis, the CARICOM Youth
Ambassadors’ S.V.G. Committee
took hold of the discussion on
December 12th, 2013 by hosting an
interactive panel discussion
dubbed ‘Free up the Herb?’
The aim of the session was to give
an informed, civil-friendly
overview of the potential pros and
cons of legalizing the substance – a
topic that has triggered regional
discussion among civil and high-
profile minds alike.
The distinguished panelists, all
from different backgrounds and
beliefs, gave a brief account
either for or against the
substance being decriminalized.
The balanced board of panelists
tickled the appetites of the live
and online (Facebook, Twitter
and Star FM Radio Station)
audience: Mr. Terral Mapp was a
highlight of the evening, making
his economist’s presentation on
the subtopic “Ganjanomics.” The
other four panelists – Dr. St. Clair
Thomas (medical aspect);
Counsel Mikhail Charles (legal
discussion); Mr. Ayodele Pompey
(Christian view) and Empress
Modupe Olufunmi (Rastafarian
view) did not disappoint the
insatiable levels of interest on the
usually sensitive issue.
‘Free up the Herb?’ came at a timely moment and was
triggered by the Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the
Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, the newly enacted Chair
of CARICOM. His letter to the then Chair of CARICOM,
Kamla Persad-Bissessar (Prime Minister of The Republic
of Trinidad and Tobago) made a call for an informed
discussion on medical and other uses of marijuana. P.M.
Gonsalves, in his letter, said that a “reasoned debate” is
necessary in the context of marijuana legalization, since
the plant has proven beneficial uses, even though its use
and abuse has impacted the health and security of many
people.
‘Free up the Herb?’ was held at the Frenches House at
7:00 p.m. It is expected and avidly anticipated, as outlined
by some members of the audience, that follow-up
discussions will take place with regards to marijuana
legalization.
QUICK FACT:
Marijuana refers to the dried leaves,
flowers, stems, and seeds from the hemp
plant Cannabis sativa, which contains the
psychoactive (mind-altering) chemical
delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), as well
as other related compounds.
CARICOM YOUTH AMBASSADORS S.V.G COMMITTEE
ISSUE 1, EDITION 1
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“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a
smile, a listening ear, or the smallest act of caring, all
of which have the potential to turn a life around.”
– Leo Buscaglia
TRAGEDY.
On Christmas Eve 2013, on a night when persons were
busy making preparations for the holiday, St. Vincent and
the Grenadines was hit with as much as 11” of rain over a
5-hour period. Needless to say, this was detrimental to our
lands, property and more importantly, lives. Many were
left to mourn the loss of loved ones, while estimates for
repairs to damaged homes reached at least EC$10 million.
HOPE.
The C.Y.A. (S.V.G) Committee took the initiative to journey
to the Leeward end of the island, which was most severely
hit. Armed with water, clothing, high spirits and beaming
smiles, we sought not only to ease physical constraints, but
to bring emotional relief as well. The C.Y.A’s efforts were
concentrated on an emergency shelter in Spring Village,
LENDING A HELPING HAND… where members got the unique opportunity to interact
with survivors and others affected.
The C.Y.A (S.V.G) Committee continues to work diligently to achieve the objectives of the CARICOM.
“THE POWER OF A
SMILE…”
CARICOM YOUTH AMBASSADORS’ S.V.G COMMITTEE ISSUE 1, EDITION 1
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CARICOM Youth Male Ambassador, Kishore Shallow, attended a Regional
Youth Forum held at the CARICOM Secretariat in Georgetown, Guyana from
21st to 22nd January, 2014.
The trip was made to facilitate Ambassador Shallow’s participation at the
two day seminar of the CARICOM Youth Development Action Plan (CYDAP),
which is being developed to guide national policy and integrated planning
and action regarding youth. The Regional Youth Forum’s objectives were to
create youth- and environmentally-friendly educational materials and a tool
kit for stakeholders in the implementation of CYDAP, as well as gender-
responsive and youth-facilitating marketing and communication strategies
to promote CYDAP.
CYA Shallow, in giving an overview of the forum, outlined that “the
engagement of the youth in development planning must be a part of the
recipe for a successful region. The realization has certainly been realized
CARICOM, and as they continue to champion the involvement of the youth,,
utmost credit must be given to Secretary General Ambassador Irwin
LaRocque and his staff.” Ambassador Shallow highlighted that during the
forum, he had the opportunity to interact, dialogue and participate in
creative planning and execution of various tasks.
The forum saw youths from organizations, including CARICOM Youth
Ambassadors from across the region.
AMBASSADOR SHALLOW REPRESENTS AT REGIONAL YOUTH FORUM
PENITENT:
“Someone who is sorry for
something bad that they have
done and wants to change their
behaviour, especially because of
religious beliefs.”
Macmillan Dictionary
Still to come…
‘NEVER AGAIN
SLAVERY’
+
FACTS YOU
PROBABLY
NEVER KNEW.
“ENGAGEMENT OF
THE YOUTH IN
DEVELOPMENT
PLANNING MUST BE
PART OF THE
RECIPE FOR A
SUCCESSFUL
REGION…”.
KEEP CALM AND
LEARN A NEW
WORD.
CARICOM YOUTH AMBASSADORS S.V.G COMMITTEE
ISSUE 1, EDITION 1
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ON THE 25TH OF EACH MONTH, HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO TO
ORANGE YOUR WORLD:
ON THE 25TH OF APRIL, 2014 (and each month after), wear orange and share your photos
@cyasvg using the hashtag #OrangeDay.
HOLD DISCUSSIONS with the CYA Committee Members on the Facebook page: CARICOM Youth
Ambassadors SVG. Let the world know that violence against women is still a major concern and that
you do not condone it!
SUPPORT other initiatives in your community.
IT’S NOT A SECRET – tell a friend! Encourage a friend/family member to join in the fight for ending
violence against women.
orange your world In July 2012, the United
Nations’ Secretary
General’s campaign –
“UniTe to End Violence
against Women” –
resulted in the 25th of
every month being
declared as ORANGE
DAY. The C.Y.A’s (S.V.G)
Committee supports this
venture each month!
CARICOM YOUTH AMBASSADORS S.V.G ISSUE 1, EDITION 1
Members of the CARICOM Youth Ambassadors’ S.V.G Committee –
P.R.O, Shanika John and 2-year member, Shernell Hadaway –
participated in a ‘Community Alerts’ two-day project hosted by
the National Emergency Management Office (NEMO) on January
21st – 22nd, 2014. The initiative was taken after St. Vincent and the
Grenadines, Dominica and St. Lucia suffered extensive
infrastructural damage in the Christmas Eve 2013 Floods.
The workshop was targeted at “Effective Implementation in the
Caribbean through Integrated Early Warning Systems”, in which
one of the main objectives was to improve awareness to natural
disasters and associated preparations and response protocols.
The C.Y.A Committee continues to support all initiatives taken for
the holistic development of the region.
C.Y.A. COMMITTEE MEMBERS REP AT NEMO’S WORKSHOP
Black History Month is an annual
celebration and recognition of the
many achievements of persons of
the Black descent over the years.
Historians, actors, singers, writers,
athletes, politicians, students – men
and women – are recognized for
their brilliant contributions. The
CYA’s Facebook page was very
active and full of life – and colour.
Each day, from February 6th – 28th,
each CYA Committee Member
made a special post about a chosen
Black icon. This initiative was
suitably called the CARIBBEAN
HALL OF FAME. Here are a few
excerpts:
GEORGE LAMMING:
“A strong opposer of colonialism, Lamming sees the lack of cultural identity in this region as a direct result of the history of colonial rule.”
ELLSWORTH MCGRANAHAN “SHAKE” KEANE
“Shake” Keane was born in St. Vincent in 1927. By the late 1950s and into the 1960s, he was considered one of the best flugel horn players in Europe and became known in international jazz circles.”
DR. MYLES MUNROE
“He has spent the last thirty years travelling
the world training leaders in business,
education, government and religion. He
delivers his message of personal and
professional development to more than
500,000 people yearly.”
LEARIE CONSTANTINE:
“Before 1944 it was common for West
End hotels to refuse accommodation
to black people. In 1943 this happened
to Learie Constantine, one of the
world’s most distinguished cricketers.
He sued the hotel and won his case. As
C.L.R. James put it, he revolted
“against the revolting contrast
between his first-class status as a
cricketer and his third-class status as
a man”.
His legal victory was a turning point
in the struggle against the humiliating
forms of colour bar in Britain.”
VISIT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE FOR MORE:
CARICOM Youth Ambassadors S.V.G
Shanika John, CYA’s S.V.G Committee’s Public Relations Officer (left) and Shernell Hadaway
CARICOM YOUTH AMBASSADORS S.V.G COMMITTEE
ISSUE 1, EDITION 1
8
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY TWEET/CHAT A #SUCCESS!
On Saturday 8th March, 2014 – International
Women’s Day – The CARICOM Youth Ambassadors
Corps hosted a tweet/chat discussion under the
palatable theme, “Is Equality for Women Progress
for All?”
Between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., women and men
across the Caribbean region participated in
meaningful tweets that saluted and empowered
women and highlighted some of the issues facing
females today.
Persons who took part in the ‘#IWD Tweet Chat
Saturday’ were treated to inspirational quotes,
mind-boggling questions, passionate tweets and a
general air of awe towards women across the
region and the world.
In case you missed it, here are a few highlights!
“The advancement of our region relies heavily on equal contribution from men & women!”
@KishShallow
“When our society values & respects girls as equals, they are more likely to be healthy and safe & have better and satisfying careers.”
@TamiBe
“The gap between women’s potential & our reality is societal suicide. The world needs us (women). Some are just afraid to admit this.”
@Chel_Lioness
“We cannot succeed when half of us are held back...#IWD2014”
@MalalaFund
“We must support women to be role models for girls.”
@cyapinfo
“Question is not who is going to let me, question is who is going to stop me. Salute to women for their perseverance…” @smritiirani
Youth Ambassadors’ S.V.G Committee 2014 Natesha Alexander Tamira Browne (Female Youth Ambassador) Rachael Quashie Donique Billingy
Lauren Ash Kishore Shallow (Male Youth Ambassador) Rolicia Spence Ayana Solomon
Camiesha Bascombe Aliaka Jones (Deputy Female Youth Ambassador) Racquel Wilson Kemuel Walters
Ariane Baynes Andre Browne (Deputy Male Youth Ambassador) Rhea Lewis-Ashton Jai-len Williams
Vatalie Caesar Shanika John (Public Relations Officer) Kemuel Stapleton Dearesa Cyrus
Raven Cruickshank Junelle Quow-James (Treasurer) Theron Tommy Shernell Hadaway
Emil Dougan Yaphet Niles (Secretary) Kenrife Matthias
Chelcia Ferdinand (Publications Officer)
CARICOM YOUTH AMBASSADORS’ S.V.G COMMITTEE ISSUE 1, EDITION 1
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When the clouds turn dark
And the sea rages
When close seems afar
And your heart races
Be strong.
When all your friends are gone
And you’re agonized from this sojourn,
Just believe and keep on hoping
That soon you will be living
To be strong.
Be strong
For you
Be strong
For me
Just stand firm and hold on.
Hold onto what you’ve been taught
For in time, your reward will be sought
So stand for something
Lest you fall for anything.
Anything or anyone
That will make you weak
Time – this life waits on no man
So show us now ‘who you be’.
A bold
Humble
Proud
Ambitious
Man
Woman
Boy
Girl…
So rise again
Just like the sun
To shine again
Bright as the stars
And all will know
From the glow
That you are…
I am…
STRONG.
Kenrife Matthias
Member
CARICOM Youth Ambassadors’ (S.V.G) Committee
BE
STRONG
CARICOM YOUTH AMBASSADORS S.V.G COMMITTEE
ISSUE 1, EDITION 1
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International Remembrance Day of the Victims of Slavery and the
Transatlantic Slave Trade was observed this year, on March 25th.
To commemorate this day and to honour those who terribly
suffered and died at the hands of slavery, the C.Y.A’s Committee
held a movie night, open to the general public.
Appropriately called ‘Never Again Slavery’, the night was
dedicated to highlighting the injustices that result from prejudice
and racism – one of the main aims of International Remembrance
Day of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
The chosen movie, 12 Years a Slave, told the true story of Solomon
Northup – a free black man living in the pre-Civil war United
States who was abducted, sold into slavery, then battled not only
to survive, but to preserve his dignity.
‘Never Again Slavery’ was held at the S.O.V Night Lounge at 7:00
p.m. and is expected to perpetuate throughout the year for
continual awareness.
Several members of the CARICOM Youth Ambassadors’
(S.V.G) Committee and owner of S.O.V.
‘NEVER AGAIN SLAVERY’: International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic
Slave Trade.
FACTS
SLAVES CONSTRUCTED MORE
THAN 9, 500 MILES OF
RAILROAD TRACK BY 1860.
AT 17, SLAVE MEN WERE
SHORTER THAN 96 PER CENT OF
MEN TODAY AND SLAVE
WOMEN WERE SHORTER THAN
80 PER CENT OF
CONTEMPORARY WOMEN.
THE AVERAGE BIRTH WEIGHT
OF SLAVE INFANTS WAS LESS
THAN 5.5LBS.
FEW SLAVES LIVED INTO OLD
AGE. BETWEEN 1830 AND 1860,
ONLY 10 PER CENT OF SLAVES IN
NORTH AMERICA WERE OVER 50
YEARS OLD.
CARICOM YOUTH AMBASSADORS’ S.V.G COMMITTEE ISSUE 1, EDITION 1
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March 21, 2014 was celebrated at
World Down Syndrome Day. To
show appreciation for persons
with disabilities, the CARICOM
Youth Ambassadors’ S.V.G
Committee visited The School for
Children with Special Needs in
Kingstown, St. Vincent. The group
went armed with games and
educational materials. They left
with an awakened sense of
understanding and a heart full of
love! A disability is not a weakness.
The S.V.G Girl Guides Association
celebrated 100 years of molding
girls into young ladies in fine style!
Of course, C.Y.As were present and
ever ready. Look at these two at
the #100STRONG Relay held on
March 14th, 2014. The ‘Relay of
Relays’ was held country-wide and
was well represented by members
of the Association.
CARICOM Youth Ambassadors,
Tamira Browne and Kishore
Shallow presented to the S.V.G
Girls’ High School on February 13th,
2014 on the topic: Regional
Economic Integration & Cultural
Integration in order for Caribbean
economies to globally function.
What a great way to pick up
momentum in raising awareness
for Regional Integration!
CARICOM YOUTH AMBASSADORS S.V.G COMMITTEE
ISSUE 1, EDITION 1
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CARICOM YOUTH AMBASSADORS’ (S.V.G) COMMITTEE
Youth Affairs Department
Rose Place
Kingstown
St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Phone: (784) 456 – 1087
E-mail: [email protected] | [email protected]
http://www.youthaffairsdepartmentsvg.com/
CARICOM Youth Ambassadors SVG
@cyasvg