January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Students protesting? Now that's progress
Not the kind of grin you see on someone's face, but an internal heart warming sense of pride. About half the demonstrators in the noontime sun that day were young people. They believed they had something important to say and they came peacefully to the House of Assembly to say it. I respect that.
I respect that because it's exactly the kind of thing I did at their age. At Howard University and here at home activism was my middle name. It was an effective method to get the attention of the politicians that my companions and I in the struggle wanted to reach.
We grew respect amongst one another and perhaps disdain among the political leaders of the day for disrupting their otherwise quiet and trouble free existence. With this Government, however, disdain will never be the response to young demonstrators.
I believe it is incumbent upon every political leader to be responsive to and supportive of youth demonstrators - to stand and to listen and to respect them even if what they say is less than flattering, even if you disagree with their platform. For example, on Friday my ideology was torn. I agree with their stance to fight corruption wherever it exists, I disagree with their stance on Independence. But so be it, I listened - and I listened proudly. I applauded when they were finished.
I have long lamented that our youngsters are not engaged in the political process as much as they should be. This small gathering proved otherwise.
It proved that the democratic fervour is alive and well among teenagers. It proved this Government's leaders listen when young people have something to say. It proved that all young people have a voice and some are not afraid to use it. That's why I applauded; that's why I smiled inside.
The Friday in question was proud for another reason. With the help of the Progressive Labour Party's Youth Strategy Team and Facebook.com, I hosted a Town Hall meeting for young people.
It was a free flowing dialogue where we discussed everything from entrepreneurship, to independence, to race relations.
The forum was engaging and no question was left without an answer. The diverse young audience of all political stripes appeared to appreciate the access to their country's leader; I certainly enjoyed the dialogue. I will conduct another Youth Town Hall Meeting as soon as my schedule allows. It was a very productive exercise. Access to young people has been a trademark of my time in the Premier's office. In the spring it was the overseas university tour, this summer there are youth town hall meetings and almost every Thursday I meet with regular citizens who want to discuss issues that are important to them. I can't see everybody, but I've seen dozens of people since late last year.
The time this Government spends on teenagers and young adults is not without purpose.
Just about a month ago I was troubled to learn that only 360 of the country's 1,300 eligible 18 and 19-year-olds had registered to vote. I tasked a team of civil servants and private citizens with changing that statistic and already 360 has jumped to 551. That's progress.
Perhaps this Government's agenda of youth involvement is working. Young people are registering to vote, they're planning grassroots demonstrations, and they're turning up in droves to my political events.
Next, I hope they will be running for office.[[In-content Ad]]
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