A national youth forum will be staged in December as the ruling Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party is increasing its efforts to reach young people ahead of general elections.
The announcement came on the weekend from Prime Minister Gaston Browne who said his party and government continues to act on its policy of engaging young people as part of the national discourse and creating a space for them at the national table .
While he did not give the date on which the forum will be held, Browne outlined the topics it will address.
“We will look at issues of governance, youth participation in governance, entrepreneurship, education and healthcare to show how the government is involving our youth,” PM Browne revealed.
The prime minister noted that the government spends an average of $30 million annually to help young nationals pursue higher education.
He pointed to the establishment of the University of the West Indies Five Islands campus in Antigua and Barbuda as the fulfillment of a dream to make education affordable and available to all.
“We are creating a space for the ‘best in class’ of our young people to serve at the top level. This space will be based on ability,” he emphasised.
