Principal Jeff Broomes, adviser to the Emerging Global Leaders of Barbados, has made a proposal to Government for an annual regional youth conference in the name of former Prime Minister, the late David Thompson.
Broomes, speaking yesterday at a Press briefing at The St Michael School, Martindale’s Road, St Michael, said the accolade was fitting as Thompson was a person who had “always shown much interest in education, youth and leadership”.
“This proposed summit can become the Caribbean version of the Global Youth Leadership Conference hosted by the Congressional Youth Leadership Council [in the United States],” he said.
Broomes said they had already approached the Ministry of Youth and the Ministry of Education and were seeking permission to use Thompson’s name from his family. They had received positive feedback thus far, he said.
As for the reasoning behind the conference, Broomes said that despite education and training in social graces, today’s youth still had a void in their “ability to respond in a way which would secure them a place of prominence in the shrinking global village”.
“This is a . . . regional concern as we seek to forge closer ties and establish stronger bonds among our Caribbean people. As those placed in positions of responsibility for developing the youth of our society we must seize the opportunity to co-ordinate all structures that can give assistance to such a process,” he said.
Broomes and the Emerging Global Leaders of Barbados had already mapped out the structure which the proposed nine-day conference would take – pending permission – which includes interactive sessions, lectures, tours, cultural presentations and project presentations. (CA)
