FORGING stronger bonds, heightening awareness of Caribbean cultural identity and the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) as well as promoting regional integration are the focal points youths from the region are addressing in Haiti. The four-day event is being hosted at the Karibe Hotel, Juvenat, Petion-Ville, in Port-au-Prince, the Haitian capital, with funding from the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for Development (AECID) and support from the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Civic Action in Haiti and the CARICOM Secretariat, the release said.

It was expected to gather together a wide cross-section of young people from across the region, particularly from Member States and Associate Members.

The programme follows the successful conclusion of the 30th CARICOM Heads of Government Conference in Guyana

Themed ‘Youth – Making the Caribbean’, the forum in Haiti was convened as the CARICOM Commission on Youth Development (CCYD) steps up its programme of sensitisation on its research findings ahead of the proposed Heads of Government Summit on Youth, later this year a release said.

The summiteers agreed last week to have that meeting during the final quarter of 2009 in Suriname.

The CCYD research was mandated by the 27th Meeting of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government, to provide a full scale analysis of the challenges and opportunities for youth in the CSME and make recommendations on how their well-being could be improved.

With the completion of the research, Officers of the Secretariat, had been going across the region, conducting seminars, focus group discussions and sensitisation sessions, to ensure full participation of youth in the process leading up to submission of the report at the Special Summit.

The CARICOM release said the summit will also discuss the findings and recommendations coming from the CCYD Report and decide on a plan of action for youth engagement, empowerment and participation in the Community.

The CARICOM Secretariat Deputy Programme Manager for Youth Development, Dr. Heather Johnson said the agenda for the ongoing exchange is a delightful blend of interactive sessions, community interactions, site visits, cultural exchanges and discussions.

She said participants will have the opportunity to share information about their respective countries, learn about others in the region, build networks, showcase skills and talents and learn the positives about Haiti.

The group will focus on specific activities which include information sharing, a Caribbean culture night where participants will get to showcase some aspect of their individual country’s culture, community interventions, business sessions, as well as a meeting with the President of Haiti, Mr. Rene Preval.