The newly relaunched Virgin Islands Youth Parliament (VIYP) will have its First Sitting on Thursday, March 11, 2021, following months of preparatory works with the youths already primed for the day’s event. Photo: GIS/File

The youth parliament will launch with the debate topic “Should the Virgin Islands move to self-determination?” where parliamentarians have been prepared by a five-member secretariat led by Arliene T. Penn. Photo: Facebook/File

Debates will kick-off same day

The youth parliament will launch with the debate topic: 'Should the Virgin Islands move to self-determination?' where parliamentarians have been prepared by a five-member secretariat led by Dr Arliene T. Penn. Other Secretariat members include Mrs Phyllis Evans, Mrs Brenda Lettsome-Tye, Mrs Janice George-Harris and Mrs Heida Joyles-Selwood.

VIYP Secretariat, Dr Penn, in a release from Government Information Service (GIS), said the youth parliamentarians have been engaged in intense research and discussions about the motion and that they have been meeting several days a week, including weekends, to prepare their contributions for the upcoming debate.

“As the Secretariat, our responsibility is to create learning opportunities for the young people to gather primary and secondary data from different stakeholders, including scholars and local, regional and international institutions,” she said.  

Youths exposed to data analysis strategies

Dr Penn said the youths were exposed to different strategies for amalgamating and interpreting the data collected, whether it is quantitative or qualitative.

She said the coordinating team have also been working with the youths to ensure that there is a clear understanding of the differences that exist between parliamentary and school debates.

“Our responsibility is not to tell the youth what to think about or how to think. Instead, we have encouraged all of them to allow the research — data collected — to guide and shape how they draw their conclusions and frame their respective contributions to ensure independent thinking through the lens of the youth.”   

The Virgin Islands Youth Parliament is comprised of 23 young people from all districts ranging from the ages of 18 to 35. The nominees are selected from other youth organisations, churches and nonprofit organisations.

Stream & Watch live

The event is expected to be carried live at 5:00 pm on the House of Assembly’s YouTube page; the Government of the Virgin Islands Facebook page, along with radio stations ZBVI 780 AM; CBN Radio 90.9 FM, CBN-Television (online) and FLOW TV Ch 101.