The Tribune

THE future success of The Bahamas lies in the quality of its young people.

That was the message from Ian Fair in his address to this year’s Governor General’s Youth Award (GGYA) recipients on Grand Bahama.

Mr Fair is Chairman of The Grand Bahama Port Authority Limited (GBPA) a Trustee of the Governor General’s Youth Award and a Fellow of the Duke of Edinburgh’s World Fellowship.

On Wednesday 103 silver and 118 bronze awards were presented to successful students from high schools throughout the island.

Speaking to the crowd, Mr Fair drew on the nationwide theme of this year’s 40th Anniversary of Independence, ‘The Bridge to the Future… The Journey Continues’.

He said: “Undoubtedly, our nation’s future success lies in the quality of young persons that we are now grooming to carry on after us.

“Therefore, programmes such as the Governor General’s Youth Awards are paramount in moulding the future leaders and citizens of tomorrow.”

The GGYA self-development programme is 26 years old and is geared towards young people aged 14 to 25.

It requires participants to demonstrate progress in four key areas: physical recreation, community service, skills and adventurous journey.

The GGYA offers three awards: bronze, silver and gold, with each level requiring an increasing commitment of time. So far, more than 8,000 Bahamians have passed through the programme.

Mr Fair described participation in the programme as a journey into personal discovery and character building.

He commended candidates for going beyond the required hours in community service and for demonstrating how stories about young people don’t have to be negative.

“Local periodicals are often filled with profiles of some of you who are actively involved in community efforts – whether assisting as volunteers at the Rand Memorial Hospital, or engaging in coastal clean-ups. Also, we marvel at the feats you’ve accomplished in your quest to meet the necessary skills and physical fitness requirements,” he said.

The GGYA programme is an affiliate of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award programme.

Over 140 countries currently participate and since its inception, some eight million entrants have participated worldwide.

Fair added: “This award concept is one of individual challenge. It presents to young people a balanced, non-competitive programme of voluntary activities which encourage personal discovery and growth, self-reliance, perseverance, responsibility to themselves and service to their community.

“Therefore, we at The Grand Bahama Port Authority pledge our continued support of such a worthwhile initiative and wish each of you recipients Godspeed towards achieving your goals.”