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‘We have to do a whole lot more to engage our youths’- Hon Wheatley

Minister of Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) has called on Virgin Islanders to do more to engage local youths and draft new plans on the way forward. Photo: Facebook/File
Hon Vincent O. Wheatley in a December 7, 2021, social media post said, 'There is something about this picture that tells me we have to do a whole lot more to engage our youth. We have to rethink where we are and how we are to get to the next level, I will leave this here for now.' Photo: Facebook
Hon Vincent O. Wheatley in a December 7, 2021, social media post said, 'There is something about this picture that tells me we have to do a whole lot more to engage our youth. We have to rethink where we are and how we are to get to the next level, I will leave this here for now.' Photo: Facebook
In his 2022 budget address delivered on November 11, 2021, Premier Andrew A. Fahie said his Government continues to pursue programmes to engage local youths with the aim of helping them to develop positively and to become empowered. Photo: VINO/File
In his 2022 budget address delivered on November 11, 2021, Premier Andrew A. Fahie said his Government continues to pursue programmes to engage local youths with the aim of helping them to develop positively and to become empowered. Photo: VINO/File
VALLEY, Virgin Gorda, VI – Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) has called on Virgin Islanders to do more to engage local youths and create new plans on the way forward.

The Minister made the statement in a recent social media post, along with a photo of youths engaging in district cleaning exercise.

“There is something about this picture that tells me we have to do a whole lot more to engage our youth,” he said in the social media post of December 7, 2021. 

“We have to rethink where we are and how we are to get to the next level,” the Minister further lamented.

Youths remain the future - Premier Fahie 

While no response was received up to publication time for the Minister to further lament on his statements, over the years, Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has stated that local youths remain the future of the territory, and as such, his administration will make moves to empower future generations.

In his 2022 budget address delivered on November 11, 2021, Premier Fahie said his Government continues to pursue programmes to engage local youths with the aim of helping them to develop positively and to become empowered.

“Through the Be Youth Centre (BYC), which was opened in April 2021, we endeavoured to develop programming including social and life skills, job preparation, digital literacy, introduction to technical and vocational skills, and entrepreneurship.”

He said in previous years, activities such as Youth Talks and Game Night, for example, were successfully implemented, “Some of our other plans had to be deferred due to COVID-19; however, efforts are underway to redesign these programmes so that they can be offered virtually as far as possible.” 

MoE & Premier's Office working to develop programmes - Premier 

Hon Fahie further revealed that the Ministry of Education and the Premier’s Office are working together to develop a digital literacy programme in secondary schools by March 2022.

“Your Government will continue to provide scholarship opportunities through financial assistance to individuals to enable the pursuit of tertiary level education both locally and abroad. And I must say, I do commend the Minister of Education for working hard to revitalize the Scholarship Abroad programme.”

At the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, Hon Fahie further said the marine, solar, and financial services training programmes will continue in 2022 by Governments, as many of the local people have benefitted from these programmes.

He said the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports will continue to promote healthy lifestyles through community activities and is working on Public-Private Partnerships to create entrepreneurship programmes for VI's youths by June 2022, as reflected in their budget.

9 Responses to “‘We have to do a whole lot more to engage our youths’- Hon Wheatley ”

  • bvibuzz (09/12/2021, 10:47) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well done team vip this dude Vincent speaking out of turn
    • @BviBuzz (09/12/2021, 12:25) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Do you really think this is a concern of just TEAM VIP ONLY? IF YOU DO, THEN YOU ARE SIMPLY STUPID.
  • Scientist (09/12/2021, 10:55) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Start by investing in fundamental education. H Lavitty Stout Community College courses, are all well and good, but are not likely to yield good results unless the students are literate and numerate. Glad to see Fahie has clued into “Youth remain the future” (as they always have). Now act on it. Did I mention invest in fundamental education?
  • eye doc (09/12/2021, 11:15) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    Pure old talk
  • Talk cheap (09/12/2021, 12:33) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Involve all the youths, Mr.Minister. Not only thoes who are know to you, Not the same people every time..Mr Minister alot of persons beleive that jobs should be given to youths who are not employed.. As far as eyes could see, persons who are employed has contracts for cutting grass. Include all the young men in the community as well. Rotate the thing. One family given two contracts when some are hungry, others have extra to put in the garbage. When the people with eyes see these changes then we would know that you are serious.
  • blah (09/12/2021, 14:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Elections are in the pipeline you hear all blah blah
  • parents (09/12/2021, 15:37) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Parents need to be creative and find ways to occupy their child's free time - wash dishes, family time(news) or comedy, read, personal time, engage in hobby, homework, cook together, art or colour, go walking/hiking....
  • get serious (09/12/2021, 20:48) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    All that you say and do will be of no avail unless you promote the truth. The youth realize that they are being lied to and deceived. They are no longer satisfied with being programmed to be the agents of their own demise. This is at the heart of all the rebelliousness that the youth are now displaying. They are frustrated by the lack of real leadership that is being shown by those in power. The youth realize what the real agenda behind the pandemic is. If you were to gain their confidence you would be amazed by their knowledge. All the lies and games only serve to frustrate them further. They realize that our so called leaders must please their masters so they get lip service and empty promises. Right now they are holding a big stick over your heads with the COI while you try to appear to be relevant. We are in a mental warfare our creative role was hijacked. Your liberation will come from you doing the work on the inside. The only way out is in. The false reality that we have been brainwashed with must be cast aside. The master's tools can never dismantle the master's house. We must strive to abandon and reject the practice of community building via separation as was enforced upon us by Europeans during the invasion\slavery. This practice kept us weak and powerless and is the source of our present condition. THE NEW WORLD IS ABOUT TRUTH AND NATURE.
  • Vg man (09/12/2021, 21:20) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    How you looking for the youth? and you giving out all the bush work to all the older people come on man.. you got a big thing in store .The youth them ain't get no bush work or no kind of work so what you really try say. stop it while you ahead


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