Minister of Youth Commends Formerly Deviant Youths

Thursday 6^th September 2007: Minister responsible for Youth Development, Senator the Honourable Emmalin Pierre has come out high in praise of moves by many of the nation’s formerly deviant youth to improve themselves through the Department of Youth Developments Programmes and Activities and to make positive contributions back to Grenadian society. This as the Department of Youth Development continues in its drive to address the various issues affecting our nations youth through its “Badness Out Of Style Grenada” (BOS Grenada) Movement and other programmes. A team from the Department has staged yet another successful meeting with youths of the Grand Mal Community. The meeting focused on the issues affecting them as young people and ways of addressing these.

Minister of Youth Development Senator the Honourable Emmalin Pierre has used the opportunity at these meetings to speak with youths on issues such as conflict resolution and personal development as well as on the many opportunities being offered by Government to the nation’s young people. Minister Pierre stated that it was indeed pleasing to see so many young men who would have been otherwise involved in deviant behaviours take up Government and the Department of Youth Development on the challenge to be positive youths and give back to their communities.

Team Leader Ms. Jenner Charles Youth Officer invited the young men present to share their views in an open manner and to take note of what was being said especially by the two members of the BOS Grenada Movement present Royan Smith and Devaughn Phillip. Both Smith and Phillip have also been involved in deviant acts and groups in the past and have been working over the past year with the Department of Youth Development visiting communities and speaking to youth on the blocks.

Smith encouraged the mostly young men present to take up the challenge of the Department of Youth Development and to do something positive with their lives. He spoke of the importance of them speaking about what problems they are having as young people and working along with the Department of Youth to solve these. While Mr. Phillip spoke of the influence of friends and the bad decisions he would have made in the past that led to his present state of incapacitation. He also urged the young men to come closer to Christ.

The young men gathered raised several issues such as the importance of having sporting activities and the general interaction between the elders and the youths of the area. They also showed interest in the programmes of the Department of Youth Development and actively becoming part of these.

The Department of Youth Development under the Badness Out of Style Grenada Movement has previously staged meetings with other deviant groups of youth and individuals in the St. Andrew and St. George areas and is extending its reach to all other Parishes.

Office of the Prime Minister

Department of Youth Development

Friday 7^th September 2007

440 2255 / 444 3822.3821