CARICOM Secretary-General, Dr Carla Barnett, has called for greater inclusion of young people in decision-making across the Caribbean, emphasising that youth participation is essential to the region’s development and sustainable future.
In a message marking International Youth Day on Wednesday, Barnett said young people across the Caribbean may come from different countries, cultures and communities, but share many of the same aspirations, including access to quality education, decent employment, safety, good health, opportunity and a meaningful voice in decisions affecting their lives.
This year’s International Youth Day theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,” highlights the common challenges and ambitions of young people despite differences in their circumstances.
Barnett said Caribbean youth are pursuing these aspirations against a backdrop of rapid technological change, climate-related disasters, rising living costs, crime and violence, and increasing concerns about mental and emotional health.
She noted that young people have historically played an important role in shaping Caribbean economies, culture, sport, public institutions and social movements, adding that their contribution today extends to entrepreneurship, digital innovation, agriculture, climate action, volunteerism, the creative industries and community leadership.
“CARICOM recognises that youth development is intrinsic to regional growth and sustainable development,” Barnett said, stressing that policies are less responsive to young people’s realities when their experiences are excluded from decision-making.
She pointed to the revised CARICOM Youth Development Action Plan, which identifies education, decent work, access to finance and mental health support as key areas requiring attention.
The plan also places emphasis on entrepreneurship, environmental sustainability, digitisation and technology, and mental health, while establishing clearer milestones to guide regional action.
Barnett said regional initiatives such as the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, the CARICOM Youth Ambassador Programme and the CARICOM Young Professionals Programme are helping to strengthen connections between education, employment, entrepreneurship, mobility and public service.
These programmes, she added, also provide opportunities for more regular engagement between young people, governments and regional institutions.
The Secretary-General further cautioned that opportunities are not experienced equally across the Caribbean, pointing to additional barriers faced by rural and hinterland youth, young people with disabilities, Indigenous youth, migrants, unemployed young people, young women and girls, and those outside education or training.
She urged young people across the Community to continue advancing their ideas, building connections across borders and using their skills to strengthen their communities and the wider Caribbean.
Barnett reaffirmed CARICOM’s commitment to working with young people in shaping a regional future based on dignity, opportunity and progress.
She extended greetings to young people across the Community and wished them a happy International Youth Day.