Weekly Column

Young people don’t buy into these half-baked, lame duck excuses. They expect that when you are in office you need to find answers to the problems confronting them and the country at large.

There is something even more dastardly in this statement – it simply is not true. The economy was NOT in recession when the Democratic Labour Party came to office. In case Stephen Lashley does not know it, the economy only went into recession in 2009. Young people do take kindly to being fooled, Mr. Lashley.

You can provide all the hype you choose, but they quickly see through disingenuous prattle for exactly what it is. Hype about the National Youth Forum that was little more than a free concert, littered with flowery speeches by acting Ministers of Government is still hype and Hollywood.

It is clear that the Government and Stephen Lashley as lead Minister are depending on the hype surrounding the Forum to earn some serious brownie points having failed spectacularly to produce any new programmes of note during the past two and a half years. To do so the Forum must have a clear purpose, organizational structure and agenda. Hype will only take you so far.

We are not haters. We wish the young people involved in the National Youth Forum every success. We hope that you will get all the support you need to make a difference and let the Government hear you.

The Barbados Labour Party has always had a laser focus on the well being of our young people. Take youth entrepreneurship. Minister Lashley opened a YES summer camp for eighty young Barbadian entrepreneurs this week that was started by this party. Entrepreneurship is the salvation for the youth he says. Not because it empowers young people. Not because we are in the midst of a changing business environment, both at home and amongst our trading partners. But because the Government is unable to provide jobs for our young people.

You may say that this is true of many governments around the world. What makes the decisive difference is the leadership, guidance and vision that a caring government brings to the table to support our young people at times of stress. This Government has not and is not doing so.

The Democratic Labour Party promised young people the earth, moon and stars if they would vote for them. Young people took them at their word. They are now frustrated and disillusioned with the performance of the Dems.

So much so that only a modest crowd of 300 out of 85 000 turned up for the entertainment at the gymnasium. What a pity that an idea put forward by young people did not receive the support of their peers because of its association with the dismal record of this Government.

Meanwhile, Minister Lashley is channeling Dr. Byer-Suckoo. Plenty talk but very little action and nary an original thought between the two. Our young people are tired of the long talk. They want answers, action and remedies to the lack of job opportunities. They want training programmes that will put them into the workplace with confidence, whether as owners of their own businesses or as employees. They want funding, mentorship and technical support to assist them in bringing new business ideas to fruition. Tell us about your Government’s plans for these Minister Lashley.

One last thing. Young people have the advantage of youth to see when a person is looking busy but not really accomplishing anything. You might offset them for a while but you cannot fool them forever.
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