The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

YOUTH, Sports and Culture Minister Daniel Johnson will table a National Youth Policy Bill in the House of Assembly next month.

He called the Bill “one of the most important pieces of policies we will see in a generation”.

He added that the long-awaited Bill will give young people a chance to play a much more active role in policy matters by – among other things – guaranteeing them a “seat at the table” during policy discussions within various institutions.  

He added that after engaging consultants on the Bill for the past two years, his Ministry is finally ready to move forward to make it policy.

Reports suggest that as many as 50 per cent of the world’s countries have some form of a national youth policy.

Calls for the Bahamas to introduce one of its own have intensified in recent years.

Last year, during an “Operation Cease Fire: Let Your Voice Be Heard” crime forum, a group of young people staged a short and unexpected demonstration when they surrounded an audience with large posters featuring phrases like “More funding for youth programmes” and “Speak with us on VAT.”

National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage and State Minister for National Security Keith Bell hosted the forum.

The spokesperson for the young people, Tavarrie Smith, told the panelists that a National Youth Policy Draft formed at the time was formed after holding forums around the Bahamas and engaging at least 4,000 young people.