'Stand up & be counted'- Hon Fraser tells youth
He was speaking to mainly youths at the VIP Youth Rally and Motorcade held yesterday June 6, 2015 at the Festival Grounds in Road Town. It was organised by the youth arm of the VIP, the Ready Committee and while modest at first, the crowd gradually picked up.
“Young people are changing the world every day, when fed up of the status quo they become catalysts of change in their society through social media, involvement on the ground or with fresh ideas brought to the table,” he said.
He noted that lack of employment opportunities and leadership education programmes that cannot compete with the region and the world, lack of incentives for ideas… “All of these issues is why on June 8, we will stand up and be counted.”
Telling them that they are at one of the best times of their lives, he said young people can be involved in the political process, observe their environment, talk to their counterparts about what matters, challenge what they see and hear, register to vote and ultimately vote for the right candidates.
VIP evidently serious about the youth
The Virgin Islands Party's position on the importance of tackling youth issues and getting youth involved in the decision making process is evident on the emphaisis it has placed on its youth arm, the Ready Committee and having the youngest candidate for the general elections tomorrow June 8, 2015 on their slate- Territorial At Large Representative, Ms Sharie B. de Castro. Ms de Castro, a former school teacher and Miss BVI, has been described as highly intelligent, full of ideas for youth development and possessing a passion for seeing them coming to pass.
In addition to that, the Virgin Islands Party has made it know that it was under its government that a vibrant scholarship programe was established, which opened the doors for many Virgin Islanders to gain scholarships to attend the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) and to various colleges and universities abroad.
Hon Fraser said party remains committed to youth development but also urged them to seize the opportunities for a secured future by being motivated, industrious and a vessel for change.
“Now all of the above might seem hard but it is not. It is who you are at the deepest level. Don’t sit back and let life pass you by [thereby] letting someone steal your voice. The time is now. Stand up and be counted. Use whatever platform you have. Use them constructively,” he said.
He noted that everyone has a voice and a role to play. “Be a part of the movement for change…remember the best way to predict your future is to create it. We must all speak up. We must all work for it. We must all stand up and be counted if our vision of a better life is to become a reality,” he said.
The respected legislator urged that the youth show loyalty to self, family and country and said the voice of the youth is the voice of the future and it can be never be removed from them. "You must choose right now. Will you be a simple passenger on this journey or will you stand up and be counted?" he asked.
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