Nation’s Youth Urged To Exercise Moderation During Celebrations

The Saint Lucia National Youth Council is calling on the youthful population of the country to exercise moderation in their celebrations as the country hits its stride in observing Christmas and in welcoming the New Year.

“As young people it’s allright to be social. We work hard throughout the year, therefore it is only fair that we treat ourselves. However, strike a balance, do things in moderation,” Louise Victor, President of the organization entreats young people.

She admitted that although the statistics on alcohol consumption among young people here are “very startling and concerning,” she believes that that demography generally drinks responsibly.

Victor took over the helm of the Council in October of last year and believes that the organization, which had a troubling start in its infancy years, is now seen by other countries in the Commonwealth as a model organization for young people, according to reports coming out of this year’s Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Malta, which she attended.

“We are in a better position than where we were a few years ago. Countries of the Commonwealth want to feed off what we are doing,” Victor said.

But as proud as she is of the organization she is fully aware that it cannot sit on its laurels because of the charge it has, which is to represent the interest and ideals of Saint Lucia’s most precious resource, its young people. And so with this in mind she continues to exhort her peers to reach out in 2016.

“Yes, you are in a celebratory mood but take time to reflect,” Victor urged the nation’s youth.

“It’s all about setting realistic goals you can work towards. Be positive, recognize that everything you think about is what you can be,” a driven Victor said in an encouraging tone to the nation’s young population.

But by Victor’s own admission, the task of getting the nation’s young to take that progressive step in 2016 is not an easy one.

To her there are still too many of the nation’s youth who  just do not want to aspire to becoming pillars of the society because they are of the view that there is no hope for them.

“It’s like they are just going through the motions,” Victor said.

She attributed this situation to a myriad of factors impacting on the youth one of which is the lack of successive planning by the various governments of Saint Lucia.

“Another challenge we face is that of defining the youth,” Victor said.

The present national youth policy places a young person as being between the ages of 10 years to 35 years. To Victor this demography poses a challenge to her organization in terms of the type of representation it could provide.

“Those are vastly different sets of individuals. Imagine trying to represent almost three generations made up of children, young people and young professionals,” Victor said.

But there is hope for the NYC in that area in that the present policy is being reviewed.

“We are working on this new policy right now, which policy would better refine what youth is, the definition of youth,” Victor said.

With 2015 quickly fading Victor is pleading for young people to have a greater sense of awareness  in the New Year and not be influenced by the outside stimuli.