The Virgin Islands (VI) Youth Parliament, seen here meeting for the Second Sitting of its First Session on Wednesday November 25, 2015, will be re-established but under the purview of the House of Assembly.. Photo: VINO/File

The Virgin Islands (VI) Youth Parliament will no longer be the responsibility of the Minister for Education, according to Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie. Photo: VINO

Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has promised funds for the Youth Parliament and says that he hopes it 'will enable young people across the territory to diversify their skills, be grounded in civic consciousness, national identity and play their roles as the next generation of leaders and visionaries.' Photo: VINO/File

The Youth Parliament, which started in 2015, went inactive around 2016 when it was under the domain of the Ministry of Education and Culture. However, the Leader of Government Business announced via a statement at the HoA that this has changed.

No one man show like previously

He stated, “In consultation with the Minister for Education, the Youth Parliament has been reassigned from that Ministry to the House of Assembly in keeping with best practices.”

Premier Fahie also stated that “Members of the Youth Parliament will be selected differently than what obtained previously.”

According to Hon Fahie, "Each of the 13 elected members would make a nomination to the Youth Parliament. This will include young people from all sister islands; Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost van Dyke.”

The Leader of Government business and the third Premier of the Territory also noted that, “The Youth Parliament will be run by a committee of Honourable Members, Chaired by the Speaker and will involve government members, Hon Sharie B. de Castro, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley and Hon Kye M. Rymer, and Opposition representatives Hon Melvin M. Turnbull [along with] Hon Alvera Maduro-Caines.”

Many over the years have claimed that the YP was used as a “political football for a former Legislator”, however, Premier Fahie stated, “Mr Speaker, ours is an administration of inclusion. Thus, no longer will one Minister dictate who is on the Youth Parliament, who represents what districts or even which side of the Government the young people who will be nominated falls on, as it relates to the Youth Parliament.”

The Premier made it clear that no one Minister will call the shots, “Mr Speaker, it will be a collective decision,” he said.

Money coming

The Premier promised money to fund the project and said he hopes the YP, “will enable young people across the territory to diversify their skills, be grounded in civic consciousness, national identity and play their roles as the next generation of leaders and visionaries.”

Speaker Hon Julian Willock could not be reached up to publication time for comments on his new assignment.