Youth leaders praise gov't for national progress, push for more communication, greater engagement going forward
Published:Monday | September 1, 2025 | 12:17 PM
A group of the nation’s young professionals and student group representatives has praised the government for its strong push towards national development across different sectors, giving the thumbs up for the efforts, but begged to be involved in the process of building their nation, going forward.
The group of 16, which spoke with The Gleaner last week, said, Jamaica has recorded steady progress in key areas such as national security, infrastructure, and youth engagement.
But leaders and stakeholders argue that the next phase of development depends not only on government action, but on the active involvement of every citizen, and they want to be part of the process from the start.
Andrew Johnson, Chairman of the National Youth Council, commended the gains but urged Jamaicans to see themselves as partners in national growth.
“We’ve made strides in national security, infrastructure, youth engagement, and other notable areas, but real progress demands that every Jamaican take responsibility. We cannot rely solely on politicians; we all have a role to play in building the country we want,” Johnson told The Gleaner.
For him, national development involves the entire citizenry, who have different roles at different stages of their lives.
He wants Jamaicans to take an active interest in the business of their country’s development and to own the country as theirs.
Patrina Stewart, project management specialist, pointed to the fact that young voters as a group remain under-represented in the democratic process, not because of disinterest, but because of structural barriers.
“Young voters say apathy among their group stems not from a lack of interest, but from a lack of progress in the process. Youth leaders argue that if Jamaica were to make the enumeration process more accessible, voter turnout among young people would significantly increase. Consecutive government administrations have delivered meaningful gains for the country, but without easier access to the process, many youth remain disengaged,” Stewart explained.
The group, aged 19-35 years old and who are all on the voters list, say they are passionate about their country’s progress and each would not only like to hone their skills and become experts, but also want to own homes, raise families if they choose, and contribute to nation building.
According to them, the progress in the reduction of murders, was a good example, of citizens and police, spanning all age groups, working together to stem the relentless blood flow.
They believe it is the most poignant example of what can happen when there is coalescence around an idea for the good of the country.
Ashleigh Onfroy is a social anthropologist and stressed that her area of study and focus is often forgotten in the process of development.
For her, the engagement by government must be strategic and direct and even better results can be obtained if some of the positions of young people are adopted.
Meanwhile, University of the West Indies student leader Roshaun Wynter also agreed that engagement and consistency are key to youth participation.
He believes that people crafting messages must have keen ears to the ground and young persons, as being a tertiary student, the level of engagement for him would be different from those in rural Jamaica who do not have access to the doors opened for him.
He said no one person or group has all the answers, and that is why a wide participation was crucial.
For Rajae Danvers, communication strategist, the missing link is consistent, deliberate communication from the state.
“Consistent communication from government must be the order of the day. When citizens are informed, they are more likely to engage. Information leads to education, and education builds the confidence people need to participate. Communication is not just about issuing statements—it’s about building trust, clarifying priorities, and ensuring Jamaicans feel included in the nation’s journey,” Danvers told The Gleaner.
According to him, “the consensus among stakeholders is clear: progress has been achieved, but lasting development requires a wider circle of participation. The call is not only for government to continue delivering, but for Jamaicans, especially young people, to step forward, engage, and claim ownership of their country’s future.”
Results of opinion polls published in Sunday, August 31 Gleaner showed that voter apathy in this age cohort had dropped by six per cent over the findings earlier this year.
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