Twenty-three students from Cayman Brac and Grand Cayman are busy gearing up to take over the Legislative Assembly for a day on 12 March. The lines of engagement have been drawn and the students have moved into active preparation for Youth Parliament 2012.

Hosted by the Legislative Assembly to commemorate Commonwealth Day, Youth Parliament annually showcases youth public debating skills while initiating them to some of the challenges of public office, said Organising Committee Chairman and MLA, Mr. Dwayne Seymour.

He and the other committee members, MLA and Deputy Speaker, Mr. Cline Glidden Jr., JP, and MLA, Capt. Eugene Ebanks, JP, and Clerk of the LA, Mrs. Zena Merren-Chin, coach and guide the students.

“Thus far, the students have chosen the roles they will play including Speaker, Clerk, Deputy Clerk, Governor, Serjeant-at-Arms and MLAs,” explained Mrs. Merren-Chin.

The students have been attending the LA each Tuesday and Saturday to prepare for their roles, whether as officials or as MLAs. In the role of representatives, they have been formulating motions and preparing their debates, she said.

The students represent Layman Scott Sr., John Gray, Clifton Hunter, St. Ignatius and Cayman Prep high schools, Cayman Islands Further Education Centre (CIFEC), Grace Christian Academy, Wesleyan Christian Academy and University College of the Cayman Islands (UCCI).

“This year’s Youth Parliament sponsors — Butterfield Bank, Cayman National Bank, Cayman Airways, Radio Cayman and Cayman 27 — have enabled some of our brightest young people to receive valuable experience in how our legislature works,” Mrs. Merren-Chin added.