CARICOM'S Assistant Secretary-General advocates for increased youth participation during a visit to Nassau
MARCH 2025 - CARICOM’s Assistant Secretary-General for Foreign and Community Relations, Elizabeth Solomon, advocates for increased youth participation in regional development. The ASG engaged with youth in The Bahamas last week during several youth empowerment and capacity-building activities held in the margins of the CARICOM Youth Forum “One-Youth-One Voice” on Thursday, 20 March [2025].
“Sailing is intrinsic to our identity as Caribbean people and crucial to economic opportunities and youth empowerment”
On Friday, 21 March, she participated in a special meet-and-greet at the Uriah McPhee Primary School hosted by the Ministry of Works and Family Island Affairs in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Technical and Vocational Training and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This event served as a platform to emphasise the importance of youth engagement in developmental initiatives, mainly through the Junior Sailing Programme.
“Sailing in the Caribbean is deeply intertwined with local culture and intrinsic to our identity as Caribbean people. Local regattas and boat races, for example, are celebrated events that blend friendly competition with music, food, a sense of community, and unique cultural festivities. These activities play a vital role in the social, economic, and cultural development of our diverse communities throughout the Caribbean. For over 70 years, regattas have been a cherished tradition across the Bahamian islands, especially in the Family Islands, breathing new life into the sail-driven workboats that historically supported the economy through fishing and freight,” shared the ASG during her engagment with students.