WASHINGTON – Antigua’s Minister of State Responsible for Youth Affairs, the Honourable Winston Williams, returned to St. John, Antigua on Friday, September 21 after attending an historic youth symposium, entitled “Empowering the Future Leaders of the Americas at the Organization of American States (OAS) in Washington DC.
At that event, Minister Williams joined Ambassador Deborah Mae Lovell, Antigua and Barbuda’s Permanent Representative to the OAS, as she placed the topic of Youth Empowerment on the hemispheric agenda. This is the first time in the history of the OAS that the question of youth, in all its dimensions, has been included in OAS activities.
In his address, Minister Williams said that “ I am pleased the 160 square mile twin-island state of Antigua and Barbuda, through its Permanent Representative, Ambassador Deborah Mae Lovell, has pushed the door wide open on this most important subject of empowering the future leaders of the Americas”.
Minister Williams also informed the packed hall that three years ago, at the age of 29, he pledged to dedicate his abilities to the service and welfare of the people of Antigua and Barbuda and by extension the region, as the youngest member ever to be elected to his country’s Parliament and as the youngest Minister of his country’s cabinet. He then added: “Yours might not be a service in the political arena; whatever your calling may be, make sure that you live a life of service, a life that builds your country, and a life that builds this great hemisphere of ours”.
The Youth Symposium drew many high-ranking officials including the Vice President of Guatemala, Dr. Eduardo Stein, the Secretary General of the OAS, Dr Jose Manuel Insulza and representatives from the World Bank, the Pan American Health Organisation, the Inter American Development Bank and the International Labour Organization. Also in attendance were over 250 young people representing 33 countries.
Ambassador Lovell, for her part, said that she envisioned the youth symposium as the beginning of a process at the OAS. She said that through her six-point plan of action that has been laid on the table, she will work to ensure that the question of youth empowerment becomes an integral part of the OAS activities.
