At 34th Regional conference…
SECRETARY-General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), Dr William Shija has advocated that the grouping must actively involve young people in its programmes and activities.

He was addressing the opening session of the 34th Annual Regional Conference of the Caribbean, the Americas and Atlantic Region of the (CPA), last Sunday at the National Cultural Centre, Mandela and Homestretch Avenues, Georgetown.

Shija noted that the Commonwealth celebrated its 60th anniversary this year, around the theme ‘Serving a New Generation’ and said an appropriate reminder that young people are part of it will remain.

Pressing for the involvement of youths, he said young people around the Commonwealth comprise close to 60 per cent of the population.

He insisted they are the ones who will inherit and build on the Commonwealth which has served previous generations.

“Young people today are not only seen as leaders of tomorrow. They are leading actually today,” Shija contended.

He said, through their involvement in development, policies and communities, one can see what a diverse and active young community the future offers the Commonwealth and the world at large.

Alluding to the current global crisis and environmental challenges, Shija argued for the involvement of young people so that they know what is happening around them, as they are often the ones left out from discussions about solutions.

“As we look to the future of the Commonwealth, it is my hope that this will change,” he said.

The Secretary-General reminded that young people, usually, look at the older generations for guidance in solving problems.

However, with the onset of improved technology and such, older generations are now looking to young people for the answers, he pointed out.

According to him: “Never has it been truer that nothing should be done for young people without their input.”

Achievements
He said, over the years, the Commonwealth has had many achievements in this regard, with continued involvement of young people through programmes such as its National Youth Councils, Regional Advisory Boards and the Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP) which, usually, conducts a number in various countries.

Shija also said that, through the Commonwealth, young entrepreneurs have been given access to loans, training, education and business support by way of its Youth Credit Initiative.

Other projects for young people include the Commonwealth Youth Ambassadors and he said the CPA also holds youth parliaments which are designed to strengthen the democratic process within.

Shija encouraged the branches, like in Guyana as well as others in the Caribbean, to come up with ideas for training young people to get into public service.

He said the CPA has continued to lead the way in parliamentary strengthening, assisting parliaments in the developing countries in relevant regional and joint programmes, too.

Shija said branches with more ability should work on strengthening the work of better parliaments of tomorrow”.

The conference, being attended by delegations from including Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Grenada, Antigua, British Virgin Islands, Bermuda, Jamaica, United Kingdom and Canada, will be debating socio-economic and political matters that threaten to hinder the region’s development.

The CPA, founded in 1911 as the Empire Parliamentary Association and renamed the CPA in 1949, serves to provide easier exchange of information and facilitate closer understanding and more frequent intercourse among those engaged in the parliamentary governance of the various Commonwealth States.

Under the theme ‘Strengthening Parliamentary Democracy; Confronting Challenges and Enhancing Cooperation within the Region’, the conference concluded yesterday.