Sharie B. de Castro calls on youth to start dreaming again
“As young BVIslanders we have reached a place where we have stopped thinking that it’s possible. We have opted to stop getting excited about our dreams and visions. We have silenced our souls and pacified our passions. It’s time for us through visionary leadership to allow people to dream again, to have a vision, to know that creativity and innovation is allowed in the BVI under a VIP government. This is fundamentally missing in young people today. The first thing we say is, ‘I don’t have any money!’” said Ms de Castro to a resounding applause from the attentive audience.
Invest in Young people
It was the occasion of the official campaign launch of her fellow VIP candidate who is vying for the seat in the House of Assembly in the June 8, 2015 national elections, Mr Elton L. Sprauve aka ‘All Out’, that Ms de Castro touched on the topic of Economic Empowerment for the Youth. She said training opportunities, for example in the tourism sector, should be made available for more young people to take over in the roles as managers and that they should not just be occupying jobs that fall within lower brackets of income.
“How is that sustainable for the future of our Virgin Islands if the youth are our future? We have to invest in our young people like myself, who are not only willing to see the vision, but to chase it and catch it,” she noted.
No handouts
“We do not want handouts, instead we want a government that will give us opportunity first and then resources to do it.”
She further stated that if they are going to make opportunities sustainable, it’s imperative that they get young entrepreneurs involved. “Virgin Gorda and Anegada both are overflowing with opportunities.”
She also alluded to the fact that public/private partnerships is necessary to achieve the national agenda and that it’s important that they pull people and resources from the public and private sectors to partner with government.
“Is it sustainable or is it a one off investment? We cannot choose investors who come solely to make money on us and leave. Tap into people that are already vested in the country. They are already here. How do you give them incentives to develop a programme that benefits this country from generation to generation? What do we want to see for this country? What does the VIP want to see for this country?” she asked.
A 20/20 vision for the economic future of youth of the VI
“What should the BVI look like in 2020? Yes 5 years from now and as far away as 20 years? We cannot solely have near sighted or far sighted vision but we must create 20/20 perfect vision.” She noted that the VIP’s vision is not for the next 4 years. “Our vision is looking ahead into the future. How do we sustain the territory 20 years from now? …Remember, the only thing worse than being blind is having sight and no vision. Why not tap into the resources that we already have available as a country to achieve those objectives?”
According to Ms de Castro, the VIP’s vision is to ensure excellence within the tourism sector, from the taxi driver to the ferry boat operator to the concierge, the cleaner, no matter where one sits in the tourism industry as it boils down to having an excellent service mentality.
She said the VIP’s vision is to start an apprenticeship programme for young VIslanders in Virgin Gorda and Anegada who intend to become entrepreneurs.
Giving incentives
“We give investors an opportunity to fund it and we use the college to facilitate it. If we start at college level by training young entrepreneurs who have business ideas, we can use our investors by pulling from their strengths and giving them the opportunity to disperse their expertise and experience at the college,” she said.
Further, she said, “If we give incentives through attachment and apprenticeship this will generate a high level of competition that will drive young people to work hard and to be the best so that they can access these opportunities.”
According to Ms de Castro, this is just a small excerpt of how the VIP can affect major change through youths. “BVI we are no longer accepting the things we cannot change, we are changing the things we cannot accept. We can no longer view our youth through suspicion and skepticism. We must look closely and see the opportunities for entrepreneurship and business development right here in Virgin Gorda.”
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50 Responses to “Sharie B. de Castro calls on youth to start dreaming again”
We hope to hear more soon, she stated problems and she give solutions - which are not far fetched.
The Bible says and the LITTLE ONES shall LEAD THEM.
May not be voting fo the entire party but DEFINATELY voting for YOU!
If Sharie win her mo***r will be ruling Her....
Continue on your journey to a better BVI.
You jealous because you are a friend of the NDP. You still in your comfort zone thinking that the present administration is great.
I must have struck a nerve because you took the time to reply with NOTHING of merit. My comment wasn't a personal attack on anyone but based on observation of these newbies. I applaud her for her effort but running this territory is no graded College assignment. Decisions have to be made in the best interest of ALL. Also if YOU or Miss DeCastro can't take the heat don't come around the kitchen with petty answer backs.
Look again.