Cayman’s 2017/2019 CARICOM Youth Ambassadors (CYAs) were announced at a government press conference yesterday (Wednesday, 8 February 2017).

Female Ambassador Camille Angel, 26, and her male counterpart Andrel Harris, 24, replace the outgoing Youth Ambassadors James Geary, 26, and Takiyah Smith, 24, who also attended the meeting. Alternates Jessica Moore, 25, and Shantelle Young, 20 were also present.

Speaking at the conference, the Minister for Community Affairs, Youth and Sports, Hon. Osbourne Bodden said, “I am proud and thankful for our past Ambassadors who have all served well, and I congratulate the new pair, who I’m confident will carry the torch and continue to showcase Cayman and its youth on this very important stage.”

Mrs. Angel is a youth empowerment officer in the Youth Services Unit and Mr. Harris is a newscaster at Radio Cayman. During their two-year tenure they will be expected to represent the youth of Cayman at a regional level and engage in youth advocacy locally. Both will participate in events and CARICOM initiatives aimed at heightening youth awareness on issues that affect them locally, regionally and internationally.

“This is our fifth set of Youth Ambassadors and the impact that each set brings moves Cayman forward in terms of showing ourselves to be aligned to the concerns and interests of the region,” said the Acting Head of the Youth Services Unit, James Myles.

The Youth Services Unit co-ordinates the selection of Cayman’s Youth Ambassadors and works in partnership with them to achieve specified goals mandated by CARICOM in furthering youth advocacy both locally and regionally.

The 2017/19 CYA’s will be going to the CARICOM Secretariat’s Headquarters in Georgetown, Guyana for orientation next month and are also slated to attend a CARICOM event later this year.

During their tenure CYAs may receive regional youth-related mandates to focus on at a local level and subsequently report on to CARICOM. In such instances, a national report written by the CYAs will be made public in Cayman after its presentation to CARICOM.

Launched in 1993, the CARICOM Youth Ambassador Programme has raised the profile of youth issues locally and regionally as well as influencing policies and informing youth debate internationally.

(GIS)

Captions: Photos by Elphina Jones

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L-r: The new CARICOM Youth Ambassadors 2017/19 Andrel Harris and Camille Angel received pins and the national flag during the pinning ceremony of the press conference announcing their appointment from the Minister for Community Affairs, Youth and Sports, Hon. Osbourne Bodden and his Chief Officer Dorine Whittaker.

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L-r: Acting Head of the Youth Services Unit, James Myles with Cayman’s 2017/19 CARICOM Youth Ambassadors Andrel Harris and Camille Angel and the Minister of Community Affairs, Hon. Osbourne Bodden during the press conference to announce their appointment.