The Tribune

By FELICITY INGRAHAM

“PUSH for policy!” was the chant of a large group of young people who got together at the British Colonial Hilton for two days to talk about the things they want to see become law.

There is presently no national policy that promotes and protects the young people of the Bahamas, but current Minister of Youth Dr Daniel Johnson said he wants to ensure the vision first developed by former Director of Youth Autherine Turnquest comes to fruition on his watch.

The components of this national policy – including the creation of more opportunities for young people, gender equality and social protection – were discussed at Youth Summit 2013 on Friday and Saturday.

The event is one of the highlights of National Youth Month 2013, held this year under the theme: “Celebrating our youth . . . the journey continues”.

Summit co-ordinator Nadia Cash wanted to make sure the honest views, opinions, ideas and experiences of a wide range of young people from across social and economic divides got a chance to have a voice on the national policy for young people

The participants of Youth Summit were asked the question: “What’s Your Bahamian Dream?”

Mr Johnson asked them to answer only after reminding themselves of the struggle of nation builders such as Sir Lynden Pindling and Sir Milo Butler, who paved the way.

He said by combining their visions, they could come up with a unified mission for taking the country forward, upward, onward, together.