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EXCLUSIVE: Youth group being formed to ‘have say’ in VI society
‘Cell Group’
The group currently consists of close to 15 peers who say they meet to be an inspiration to each other. They haven’t given themselves a group name, neither are they interested in identifying themselves to the general public as they said they are budding and grooming privately.
“When we think we are strong enough to stand up to the public we may announce ourselves to the public and become a public advocate body for politics and other social matters. For now we are just the ‘Cell group,” said one member.
Invited to sit in a ‘cell meeting’ of the group of young people both men and women between the ages of 17 – 25 years, it was very interesting to hear some of the concerns they discussed amongst themselves.
It was the occasion of International Women’s Day that each member invited a friend to join their meeting and among them was one of Virgin Islands News Online’s reporters who was given permission to share the content of the meeting without revealing the identity of the members.
The meeting touched on a wide range of issues, including the place of women in society and the need for them to take up more prominent positions; senior male leaders living double lives; and the need for a coalition government.
VI Women need to rise up
According to the member that led the discussion on that day, if one is to follow the trend across the Caribbean one will notice that more women are making a difference in their various communities. “Look at Trinidad, look at the Prime Minister for Jamaica, look at the many women in places like Guyana. Women are taking the stand in prominent positions. BVI women need to rise up and make a difference in the community, the community needs it.”
The group members felt that in the territory there are many intelligent powerful and vivacious women who are more than capable of leading this territory into the 21st century. “The future generation depends on it. There is definitely a need for a balance in the House of Assembly especially, not just two women sitting in the back bench. It’s good we have the Speaker of the House being a woman but there is a need for a balance in the decision making body. The Speaker makes no decisions, she just guides the processes of the debates and decision making,” said one of the group members.
Some VI leaders living double lives?
As there were men in the discussion of the evening there was some controversy when the majority of the women expressed the strong feeling that, “History would show that most of the men elected are only making preparations for themselves, their families and a selected few. Most of the men there have double lives, just go to Spanish bars in Sea Cow’s Bay, the biggest evidence of a double life of senior male leaders are glaring. But we wouldn’t want to deal on that right now too much.”
It was discussed that it’s going to take a woman at the helm to secure the future for the masses of the territory. “Women have that talent; that gift that makes them proned to listening and rationalising much better than men can, women look at every fine, fine jot before making a decision and when that decision is made it benefits the masses and not just a select few.”
“Men have the ‘what they say goes’ mentality they want to dominate, show power, women are not like that.”
Coalition Government for the VI!
The other interesting issue that came up in the discussion that lasted for approximately three hours was the subject of a coalition government. “The BVI is ready for a coalition government. It is time that no one party rules in our House of Assembly. With a coalition government there would be less cause for criticism of the Speaker as there would be a better democratic process when bills are presented in the House to be voted on in the best interest of all the people and not just some.”
It was also said that mentoring youth for politics should be an on-going thing all year around and not just when elections are a year away. “Political mentors and activists need to start educating the youth on the importance of their vote as young people. Guide them against politicians who would try to influence their minds with intrinsic gifts and empty promises.”
Political paradigm shift
The group said it found it ironic that for three years the many issues that have been affecting the economic, social and otherwise growth of the territory were left ignored and only because elections are around the corner there seems to be much talk about what is going to happen in the next 11 months.
“It is high time for a political paradigm shift in this territory – we, though not a public group yet and seeing that we have a reporter in our midst today, want to appeal to the BVI women to rise up and form alliances with people, like some of the strong vibrant ones around and lead, lead, lead.”
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31 Responses to “EXCLUSIVE: Youth group being formed to ‘have say’ in VI society”
Very nice don't give up on you all dreams and I wish you all best of luck.
VIP will have about 6 women on their ticket so that's why all of a sudden women have worth. Go sit down with this rubbish, it will not work!
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