More young people should be on state boards, says vice-chairperson for policy, advocacy and projects of the Commonwealth Youth Council, Nikoli Edwards.
Edwards said he “took offense” when only one young person was appointed to the task force set up for the Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses (GATE) programme earlier this year.
“I think that there should be at least one young person on every state board in Trinidad and Tobago,” he said in the feature address at yesterday’s T&T Youth Conference at the Centre of Excellence in Macoya.
“We have so many challenges as young people, ranging from hairstyles that are inappropriate and education policies that many people think we consider an entitlement when they say it’s really a gift.”
Edwards said the main challenge was giving the right resources to a generation that will soon take the reins of power.
“So why not equip young people with those skills, those experiences and give them those resources so that they can be the best versions of themselves?” he asked
Edwards, son of murdered escaped prisoner Hassan Atwell, told the gathering of young people how he was able to rise above the negative comments made on social media against him and his father. He said the comments made him stronger and now they were like “water off a duck’s back.”
In July 2015, Atwell, along with Allan “Scanny” Martin and Christopher “Monster” Selby, escaped from the prison on Frederick Street in Port-of-Spain. Atwell was later shot and killed in east Port-of-Spain.
“It’s not something that I like to go out and talk about but last year . . . many of you all know that my father, Hassan Atwell was killed in that jailbreak in Port-of-Spain. Yep, my father.
“Many persons cast judgment on me for my father’s position and stuff and I used to go on Facebook every single day and read every single article and every single comment,” he said.
Edwards said people did not know him but were casting aspersions and during that time it was important for him “to keep my head up straight.”
One of the main features of yesterday’s event was an expo where participants accessed information from product and service booths on business advice, job placement, recreational, sporting and lifestyle offerings, volunteerism opportunities, health and safety campaigns, as well as academic and skill building programmes.