By Deandrea Hamilton and Dana Malcolm

Editorial Staff

#TurksandCaicos, November 24, 2022 – The Government that squats down to occupy the trenches with its citizenry, taking on with them the battles of life, duking it out with the challenges and pushing past the pitfalls for insightful leadership; rich in zeal is the kind of government people of the Caribbean need and deserve.

For the Deputy Youth Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands, it is how one stays true to that original reason they got into politics in the first place, and it was the essence of the presentation by Mr. Darron Hilaire.

Hilaire was among youth presenting on good governance at the 11th Annual Commonwealth Youth Parliament (CYP) held this week in Trinidad.

Darron’s contribution centered on: transparency and honesty in politics.

Hilaire, sitting in as Deputy Youth Premier of the TCI attended alongside delegates from countries as varied as Sri Lanka and Australia; all young people who were commissioned to come together for a discussion on good governance and politics.

Referencing the enthusiasm of the gathered youth politicians, a journalist pressed the Islander for answers to issues of integrity posing the question:  “Adult parliamentarians were youth at one point and they carried that same fire and then generation after generation they seem to lose it. What guarantee is there that you will not become just like them?”

Hilaire responded with the notion that it was not simply enough to love politics or be a zealous leader.

“As far as passion is concerned I think we need to add to passion a sense of conviction,” he maintained “I think the best conviction comes from proximity to the right kinds of issues that are affecting our communities.”

He detailed what he thought caused the disconnect between politicians and their people and thus their missions.

“I think what happens is when our leaders do assimilate into posts that give them a different lifestyle than they are accustomed to, it takes them away from the community that they are meant to be serving and the community that they are meant to be serving.”

He maintained that if young politicians can find a way to stay connected to grassroots programs where their people can have a direct line to them, which would work to keep them grounded.  He said in this way, “When they are speaking representing the people and communities they are speaking from a place of conviction and I think that is what keeps the fire lit inside a person and what keeps it pure.”

CORRECTED