
A National Youth and Entertainment Centre, designed to cater to the welfare and needs of the nation’s youth will be constructed.
Youth Development and Sports Minister Kenson Casimir has indicated the government’s commitment to constructing such a centre.
“We are in the final stages of completing the designs, and we are poised to commence construction as soon as possible,” Casimir asserted during a recent media briefing.
A comprehensive proposal and design for the National Youth and Entertainment Centre have already been presented, ensuring that the facility will serve as a hub for the National Youth Council (NYC), host E-Sports events, facilitate council meetings, and offer a variety of programmes.
Additionally, Minister Casimir confirmed that plans are progressing rapidly toward the implementation of an updated National Youth Policy and Action Plan, which will be presented to Parliament this week.
Saint Lucia embarked on the journey to establish a National Youth Policy over a decade ago, and Minister Casimir emphasizes the importance of this initiative as Saint Lucian young people continue to achieve remarkable success globally in sports, business, arts, and music.
In 2014, the NYC took part in a Youth Debate that critically reviewed the National Youth Policy. Representatives from communities across Saint Lucia engaged in discussions on the policy’s pros and cons, contributing proposals to refine the final document.
This initiative marked a significant progress in achieving NYC’s primary goals.
The NYC operates as a democratic and independent non-governmental organization representing the interests and aspirations of young people in Saint Lucia. Established on April 14, 1985, following an International Youth Year (IYY) National Youth Consultation, the Council has been a critical voice for youth.
An NYC spokesperson emphasized the necessity for a coordinated approach towards youth development across all sectors: “We insist that the youth policy, ICT policy, and health policy must intersect and work together effectively.”
A key objective of the NYC is to promote the active participation of youth in Saint Lucia’s economic, social, cultural, and political life. This objective drives the development and implementation of impactful programmes for the country’s youth.
The National Youth Policy has been in draft form since 1999, with its first revision occurring in 2000.