(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) History was created in the Caribbean Community today, when His Excellency Edwin Carrington, CARICOM Secretary-General signed to seal what is deemed to be the first Public/ Private partnership between the CARICOM Secretariat and a commercial entity, Telecommunications Service Provider of Suriname, Telesur.

The signing, which took place at the Sixteenth Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) convened in Georgetown, Guyana, on 10 October, signalled the start of collaboration in several youth-driven information, communication initiatives including the promotion of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).

Some of the activities that would be initiated within this agreement include the development of a CARICOM Youth Ambassador (CYA) interactive website; the launch of a regional competition in which mobile phones would be used by youth to treat with issues such as the CSME, positive lifestyles, HIV/AIDS and Gang Violence. This initiative would also give support to the plan to connect the Caribbean through the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

The initiative was conceptualized by CARICOM Youth Ambassadors who have been working assiduously with representatives of Telesur in fine-tuning the details of the agreement.

In signing the agreement, Mr. Carrington noted that it reflected the strength of the CARICOM Youth Ambassador Programme, and the increasing role it continued to play in promoting the CSME, the fight against HIV and AIDS, and other Community activities.

“This partnership,” he said, was the first of its kind and “involves the development of a high impact Information and Communications Technology project to engage Caribbean youth in competitive activities that will further promote the CSME.”

Mr. Dirk Currie, Chief Executive Officer of Telesur gave the background to the partnership, stating that Telesur’s involvement was a part of the company’s commitment to regional integration and youth development.

He described the partnership as one that was focused on empowering the youth within the Region through the use of the language and medium with which they are most conversant and comfortable.

He further acknowledged the support of the President of Suriname, His Excellency Runaldo Venetiaan, who has the lead responsibility for Youth, Culture, Sport, and Gender in the Quasi Cabinet of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM, and noted the role played by the CARICOM Secretariat in drafting the agreement.

Mr. Currie further called on his private sector counterparts to invest in activities that promote youth development as “an investment in youth is more than equal to an investment in the future of our Caribbean nations.”

The first project under this initiative is a regional competition in which youth participants will use their cell phones to develop one-minute one-track video on elements of the CSME. The aim of this competition is to engage youth positively in promoting the CSME. The project is expected to roll out next month.

Contact: piu@caricom.org