Minister of Youth, Family and Sports, Stephen Lashley??

Young people will gather early in July for their first business meeting after Sunday’s launch of the National Youth Forum (NYF).

This disclosure has come from Minister of Youth, Family and Sports, Stephen Lashley, who said this meeting would "jump start" the Forum, giving young people an opportunity to discuss the structure and issues to be focused on.

Mr. Lashley made the comments last evening while updating the media about the launch of the NYF on Sunday, June 20, at Sheraton Mall car park, starting at 6:00 p.m.

The Minister indicated that one of the key outputs expected from the Forum would be the input from young people on the proposed National Youth Policy, currently being drafted by a special committee which was established by the Ministry of Youth.

According to him, the Policy should be completed early next year. ??"We hope that the first order of business [by the NYF] will be engagement on the draft National Youth Policy. After we have had the varying consultations on the Policy, I expect to be in a position to take it before Cabinet sometime before the end of this year and ultimately to have that policy laid in Parliament," said Minister Lashley.

Proffering the view that the National Youth Policy would set the tone for the future development and inspiration of Barbadian youth, he noted that young people had complained overtime that adults were not listening to them and the Forum would allow them to have their say.

Mr. Lashley stressed that the Forum would be a democratically-run institution, which would give young people a chance to interface with government on policy matters that impact them. saustin@barbados.gov.bb

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