YOUTH
PARLIAMENTARIANS
COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARY CONFERENCE Johannesburg, South Africa
59th Opening Ceremony
THE FUTURE OF THE COMMONWEALTH
Miss Candace Ramnanan, Trinidad and Tobago I have had the privilege of
representing my country, Trinidad and Tobago, at the 5th Commonwealth Youth Parliament, held at the Houses of Parliament last December. Currently, I am a law student at Queen Mary University of London; and as most aspiring students, we all want reassurance that the career we intend to pursue is in fact the right one. Thus, I wanted to know whether the ambit of Parliament had a place in my future career.
By the end of the programme I had gained an insight into what it would be like to be a Parliamentarian. Not only did I enjoy acting as Deputy Prime Minister for the fictitious Government, but also interacting with people from all over the Commonwealth. The activities we were involved in and the speeches that were given by various Guest Speakers carried us throughout each day’s event.
The first day was our welcoming ceremony. The Speech from the Throne was a clear indication of what was expected of us over this four day programme, namely a greater understanding of Parliamentary procedures, good governance and democracy.
In my capacity as Deputy Prime Minister, I led the response to an Opposition Motion concerning the creation of a new association with military powers to proactively defend democracy. The Government proposed that the existing Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group already fulfilled the duty to maintain and uphold democracy across the Commonwealth and that such an association proposed by the Opposition may instigate civil unrest. It was most satisfying that our proposal defeated the Opposition Motion. On the final day, lectures about the House of Commons and the House of Lords came in handy as we had the opportunity to carry out debates of our own, in the structure that each of these Houses adopt.
A Committee of the Whole House debate was on a Youth Unemployment Bill with the aim of providing internships and apprenticeships. At the end of the debate, delegates were allowed to give examples on how these issues are governed in their respective countries. The benefit of this was that our contributions became personal. As young persons, we related to the Bill; sharing experiences of hardship in getting such work placements. Our final debate on Access to
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Free Higher Education, took place in the Robing Room at the Palace of Westminster. Once again we led a dynamic debate as this was applicable to our immediate lives. One Youth Parliamentarian felt so passionate about his stance on the topic that he crossed the floor to the Opposition; highlighting one of the many challenges in upholding democracy and good governance, the theme of the programme.
It is known that almost half of the population of the Commonwealth are under 18 years old. Debates such as the above generate suggestions that can aid Commonwealth countries in developing programmes with youths as the target audience. Therefore, not only can participants benefit from these programmes but insightful solutions may be created. It is my view that such a
programme is necessary to develop future Parliamentarians. By providing the opportunity to appreciate the workings of Parliament, a greater understanding may encourage a better quality of Parliamentarians. Following the Youth Parliament, my interest in the Commonwealth and Parliamentary activities increased. I participated in Commonwealth Day Observance earlier this year, gaining a greater understanding of Opportunity
through Enterprise. Another significant impact of the Youth Parliament was the ability to stand before you today in South Africa, presenting a speech on behalf of all the participants. I intend to continue my interest in Commonwealth affairs whilst enhancing my knowledge of Parliament.
In retrospect, the Commonwealth Youth Parliament has provided young persons, such as myself, with the opportunity to exhibit and further develop our potential as future Parliamentarians. I am very grateful for this experience as it has broadened the scope of my future career. I am confident that the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association will continue to invest in the youth through endeavours such as the Youth Parliament. I thank you for these incredible opportunities.
Mr Mason Nkabinde, Mpumalanga, South Africa I greet you in the name of the Commonwealth Youth Parliament. A great man once told me that in any country there are three types of people. The first group are the Caretakers (the people who take care of other people’s business other than their own); the second group are the Undertakers (the people
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