Budding politicians and students Jhenelle Colquhoon and Keira Bodden recently ventured where no local lawmaker has had before by participating in a debate in the Guyanese parliament.
Colquhoon and Bodden, members of Cayman’s Youth Parliament, attended the 17th CAA Caribbean Youth Parliament earlier this month, which included a session in Guyana’s house chamber.
“It was super, super cool and honestly breathtaking,” Colquhoon said, as she described being in the Guyanese Parliament and sitting in the historic chamber.
“It was different, so intriguing to see how that parliament was run. The parliament building itself is way bigger than Cayman’s, although Cayman’s parliament building is my favourite hands down. However, it was just so interesting to see how many different rooms they have compared to us,” Colquhoon, a St. Ignatius student, told the Cayman Compass.
Bodden, a Cayman Brac student, called the overall experience “amazing and a great learning opportunity”
“It was definitely an experience that was one of a kind. The people, the food, the environment, everything was just amazing … We got to travel a lot, see the country, get to know the people, the heritage, the culture and the experience, even in the House of Parliament, was excellent,” Bodden said in a telephone interview.
‘Awe inspiring’
The students joined the Cayman delegation that attended the the 46th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Caribbean, Americas and the Atlantic (CAA) Regional Conference. Minister of Sustainability and Climate Resiliency Katherine Ebanks-Wilks was part of the delegation.
At 17, Colquhoon, the premier in the Cayman’s Youth Parliament, was among the youngest to participate in Guyana, and she was designated an opposition MP and shadow minister for culture, youth and sport.
“It was just so awe inspiring,” she said. “It was just so amazing to gain not only insight on how to become a better debater, a better speaker, but also to have that interaction with other persons from other countries, getting those perspectives from other countries, and learn more about their cultures,” she said.
Bodden, who was Cayman’s opposition leader, was also designated shadow minister of youth, culture and sport in Guyana, said she the experience helped her gain confidence in public speaking.
She added she was impressed with the thought that went into the debate on ‘Regional Leaders to Promote Inclusive Governance Through Youth Representation in National Legislative Bodies’.
Though the motion failed, the points made resonated with her as she believes young people should have more say in legislation, Bodden said, noting the Youth Parliament gives young people a voice and an opportunity to express themselves on topical issues.
“[Politicians] are not going to be there forever, so we have to learn how to make our voices heard and I feel like Youth Parliament is definitely something that will help with confidence, with literally finding yourself,” she added.
In Cayman, they also feel heard as one of their motions on sexual harassment was recognised and helped move discussion forward on the related bill, she said.
“I feel like Youth Parliament is definitely something that is underrated, and I feel like a lot more Caymanians should come in and speak about the problems that they feel are in the country, because you will be heard. They’re definitely trying to listen to our youth,” Bodden said.
Colquhoon agreed as she encouraged other students to get involved.
“My message to the young person who [is] considering Youth Parliament is… just go for it,” she said.
As chair of the Youth Parliament Committee, Ebanks-Wilks watched the young students participate in the debate.
“I thoroughly enjoy accompanying our Youth Delegates. Seeing them work hard to prepare and watching it come together at the debate is very rewarding. I also enjoyed attending the Conference of Women Parliamentarians and having the benefit of leaning in and learning from other females in the profession,” Ebanks-Wilk said in a statement on the recent trip.
The students, both of whom are preparing to go to university, say they plan to enter politics after securing their professional qualifications.
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