The politicians looked a little younger than usual, but the debate was still passionate and parliamentary protocol strictly observed at the 18th session of the Cayman Islands Youth Parliament, held on Monday.
While political parties step up their campaigning ahead of the general election next month, it was the turn of the next generation of politicians to discuss major topics affecting the nation and they did so with a confidence and style which would have been the envy of their real-life political counterparts.
The Youth Parliament meets every year and is an opportunity for young people aged between 15 and 25 to learn first-hand about how Parliament works and to practise their debating skills.
Youth Parliamentarians are nominated by their respective schools or universities throughout the Cayman Islands. Once nominated, Youth Parliamentarians attend the House of Parliament and organise meetings, write speeches, draft Motions and Bills, and have the chance to influence decision makers on the issues that matter to young people. The 18th Youth Parliament started its weekly classes in October last year and participants have spent the last few months learning about Parliamentary procedures and how to prepare a motion or bill for debate.
Change-makers
Political veterans Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, Alden McLaughlin and Joey Hew kicked off the day-long session in Parliament with some advice for the younger generation.
“You are not just leaders of tomorrow, but the change makers of today,” said Ebanks-Wilks. “The debates and discussions you hold here today have the potential to influence real policies and inspire meaningful change … I encourage each of you to use this platform wisely.”
Returning to his Speaker’s seat for the first time since he officially retired from his role, McLaughlin told the assembled Youth Parliamentarians, “The opportunities you young people have now, we could not even dream about.”
He added, “[Youth Parliament] affords young people the opportunity to learn about democracy and the way Parliament works – my generation had to just figure it out.”
PPM leader Joey Hew said that it was fitting that Youth Parliament was meeting on Commonwealth Day to discuss complex and mature issues, adding, “I don’t just see leaders of tomorrow, but young Caymanians making a difference today, bringing fresh ideas, energy and passion for the future of our island.”
Cost-of-living debate
First on the Order Paper for the day was a motion proposed by Opposition Leader and MP for Bodden Town Central Raldayne Thomas. The motion set out ways to reduce the cost-of-living burden on Caymanians by introducing a housing affordability programme, greater health-insurance regulation and implementing a consumer oversight committee to monitor the prices of essential goods.
Thomas more than proved he wasn’t intimidated by the surroundings with an excoriating attack on government. “We are here to grade the government’s performance on the most critical subjects of national survival – economics, social studies, home economics and health science,” he said. “Spoiler alert – they’re all failing, and it’s Caymanians, the hardworking people of this country that are paying the price … If this were an exam, the government wouldn’t just fail – they would be expelled.’
Thomas also showed that a sharp wit as well as facts and figures could be deployed to devastating effect. “The National Housing Development Trust is moving at the speed of a turtle on vacation,” he said. ‘Seven homes a year, for 22 years? That is absolutely ridiculous.”
Opposing the motion, Jhenelle Colquhoon, premier of the Youth Parliament and MP for Newlands, proved it wasn’t just Thomas who could hit the target across the House chamber.
“While the motion seeks to address economic challenges plaguing our islands, it attempts to do too much, too fast, without a clear and sustainable road map,” she responded. “Has the opposition ever heard the phrase “haste makes waste”, or were they too busy trying to add one more thing to this long-winded motion?”
Added Colquhoon, “Rushing to implement broad policies without assessing their long-term consequences could lead to more harm than good.”
Lively debate
In spite of a spirited show by the opposition, all three proposals were voted down, and then after lunch it was government’s turn. The motion, the creation of a sex offender registry and a structured rehabilitation process for both offenders and victims, was passed by the House after a lively debate which saw the rich tapestry of interruptions, retractions, points of order, objections and elucidations deployed by parliaments around the world and adeptly handled by Speaker Jerrin Reynolds-Velasquez.
After the debate, a reception and awards ceremony was held at Government House, hosted by Acting Governor Franz Manderson. Outstanding participants who received awards were:
- Best Debater – Government: Jordan McDonald
- Best Debater – Opposition: Raldayne Thomas
- 1st Runner-Up (Government): Jhenelle Colquhoon
- 1st Runner-Up (Opposition): Rayne Harding
- 2nd Runner-Up (Government): Zara Majid
- 2nd Runner-Up (Opposition): Chloé Reid
Cayman Islands Youth Parliament was held just a week after the UK Youth Parliament and UKOTA Youth Summit, which was attended by three young Caymanians who are currently studying in the UK.
Related Videos
