#Bahamas, November 16, 2017 – Nassau – Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture the Hon. Michael Pintard said in the House of Assembly, on November 15, 2017, that shortly after his appointment as Minister responsible for Youth Affairs, he received an invitation by the Commonwealth Secretariat to attend the 9th Commonwealth Youth Ministers’ Meeting, held in Kampala, Uganda.
“This invitation permitted me along with members of my delegation Mr. Darron Turnquest, Director of Youth Affairs, and Ms. Keturah Babb, Youth Delegate – to explore opportunities for strategic partnerships,” Minister Pintard said.
Minister Pintard noted that it was important that public officials and those who are sponsored by the “People’s Money” provide the basis for expenditure on travel to such meetings.
“We are further obligated to report on the outcomes we expect and what the terms of reference were for the meeting,” he added. “Please note that the representation by the Government of The Bahamas in this forum provided an opportunity for my Ministry to develop and adopt, based on the Government’s agenda, clear, transparent and Commonwealth-endorsed approaches to youth participation, youth empowerment and development.”
Minister Pintard said that they also explored how to create youth networks, inclusive of utilizing national youth councils.
“Furthermore, we were able to increase our capacity to improve and/or create guidelines for partnerships between my Ministry, representatives of youth organizations and other youth governing bodies within and outside of The Bahamas,” he stated.
In addition, to the previously stated objectives, Minister Pintard said, the purpose of the meeting was three-fold.
The first objective, he said, was to review and assess programs in national youth development; share, celebrate and adopt good practice strategies, solutions and models; and identify new priorities for action to advance youth development in the Commonwealth – in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted in 2015.
The second broad objective, he said, was to explore the holistic potential of youth and their role in national development and in the youth sector.
“Furthermore participants at this conference gathered to consider emerging youth themes, and how they might contribute to the global youth development agenda,” Minister Pintard said.
Thirdly and finally, he said, the meeting gave participants an opportunity to engage with international organizations and the private sector on strategies for technical and financial support for national and regional youth development.
“I am happy to report that this meeting of Youth Ministers, and Youth Stakeholders and International Organizations achieved this,” he said.
Minister Pintard pointed out that during the meetings, members of the Bahamian delegation were able to review current youth development tools used internationally, pursue resources and learn about potential access to professional support available to member states, which are affiliated with Commonwealth Youth Program (CYP).
These meetings, he said, proved to be successful for the entire team.
“We in the Ministry were able to secure numerous professional partnerships and strategic alliances with other Member States and International Organizations,” Minister Pintard said. “The Bahamas delegation had an opportunity to critically assess its own initiatives and the others presented, that we thought might be useful in The Bahamas.
“We were able to determine how we could better equip youth practitioners, young people, themselves, and, of course, how to guide the implementation of the National Youth Policy – which has been entrained for at least a decade.”
“Further opportunities were granted to investigate various avenues for technical assistance from represented agencies and further assistance from the Commonwealth Secretariat,” Minister Pintard added. “I am happy to report that significant inroads made during the recent trip to Uganda.”
By: Eric Rose (BIS)
Photo Caption: Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture the Hon. Michael Pintard speaks in the House of Assembly, on November 15, 2017, about The Bahamas delegation’s attendance to the recent 9th Commonwealth Youth Ministers’ Meeting, held in Kampala, Uganda.
(BIS Photo/Eric Rose)
