PPP/C fulfills manifesto promise with $60M more for soon-to-be established Youth Advisory Council

With $25 million allocated in Budget 2020, the soon-to-be established Youth Advisory Council has received an additional $60M in the 2021 National Budget.

Minister of Governance and Parliamentary Affairs Gail Teixeira said the money is to ensure that the Council is fully established this year.

She said with the secretariat established already within the Office of the President, the monies will fund the recruitment of a Youth Empowerment Coordinator and representatives from each of the 10 Administrative Regions.

The Youth Advisory Council initiative, which is a PPP/C Manifestor promise and which was reiterated by President Irfaan Ali during his inauguration ceremony, promises to allow young people the opportunity to help shape their future.

As previously explained by Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, during the 2020 budget presentation, the move is to ensure youth involvement in policy-making decisions.

Edghill had said that between 2015 and 2020, the APNU+AFC term in government, the involvement of youth in policy-making was non-existent at the Cabinet, Parliamentary, and Local Government levels.

With this in mind, a decision was taken to create an avenue where young people are and will continue to engage in the country’s policy-making as demonstrated by the Government, according to the Minister.

The Public Works Minister observed that “by the very composition of the Parliamentary members on this side (Government), that youths are being engaged, and will continually be engaged in the policy-making of our country.”