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YOUTH FORUM POST MORTEM
Constitution Reform Forum
Wednesday 12th February 2003
International Relations, UWI
Youth Forum Post Mortem
Attendees Contacts
Dennis Pantin 662-6555 dpantin@fss.uwi.tt
Robert Young 799-3777 mrrobertyoung@msn.com
Kristy-Anne Maynard 776-1506 kristymaynard@netscape.net
Aldwin Beddoe 653-0567
Wayne Richardson 662-4783 / 683-2474 wrichardson_tt@yahoo.com
Chantal Esdelle 662-5647 / 620-4616 proartsco@hotmail.com
Nneka Warner 643-4255
Who Attended the Youth Forum?
185 persons (including 12 teachers) represented the following schools:
1. Chaguanus Senior Comprehensive School Central 10 persons
2. Arima Government Secondary School East 9 persons
3. North Eastern College East 10 persons
4. Belmont Boys Secondary School West 11 persons
5. Bishop Anstey High School West 7 persons
6. Diego Martin Government Secondary School West 2 persons
7. Holy Name Convent West 11 persons
8. Sixth Form Government School West 2 persons
9. South East Port of Spain Secondary School West 28 persons
10. St. Anthony’s College West 11 persons
11. St. Joseph’s Convent, Port of Spain West 6 persons
12. Tranquility Government Secondary School West 16 persons
13. Trinity College West 1 persons
14. North Gate College East-West Corridor 23 persons
15. St. Augustine Girls High School East-West Corridor 9 persons
16. St. George’s College East-West Corridor 6 persons
17. St. Joseph’s Convent, St. Joseph East-West Corridor 23 persons
There were 115 females present of the 185 persons
What Went Well?
The event was well organised and went smoothly
The event was innovative and well balanced
The President’s speech was enlightening & interesting,
and showed his personality in a new light. He connected very well with
the students
The teachers were flexible and effective, and had a positive
attitude, especially after being called on the facilitate at the last
minute with only a short briefing session
Students were punctual and enthusiastic, and the level
of participation was encouraging
The students became fully engaged in conversation &
debate on governance and life issues
The cultural performances were positive & had the
desired result of making the students more comfortable
The combination of the students and the artistes expression
being facilitated in the same forum was great
A new way of looking at the Constitution and its day-to-day
effects on life was reached by the students
New issues and enlightenment on other stakeholders that
should be consulted came up, i.e. homosexuals, environmentalists, religious
communities, including the Rastafarians
The day reinforced the belief that the youths have a strong role to play in reforming the Constitution
What Could Have Been Done Differently?
Meaningful advanced publicity needs to be done
More concerted efforts need to be made to have a broader
cross-section of the national community
Copies of the Constitution can be provided
The questions for the working group sessions can be more
diverse, and the students can be encouraged to present them in a more
innovating manner
The students can be encouraged to relate their answers
more directly to reform of the Constitution
The cultural performances could be kept tighter, and be
more diverse in their representation of the national community
Encourage more non-school youth and youth groups to participate,
along with University students
The students could have been asked to do an evaluation of the forum
Recommendations
Lobby for the Constitution to be included on the school Social Studies
curriculum
Host other Youth Forum in communities
Next Steps
Document the Working Group Reports in time for the next General Meeting of the CRF. This will be used to develop a work plan
Send thank you letters to the schools, presenters, facilitators and the
President
Send letters to the schools that were invited giving them an update on
the event
Set up special Youth Fora for San Fernando and Tobago
Begin to target electoral party youth arms
Host a workshop to train facilitators from within the ranks of the CRF
Create a Press Release/Media Update on the Youth Forum giving our take
on the forum. This should state that the media’s leaving when they
did was disrespectful to the young people.
Questions Arising
Q: What was the cause of the students’ enthusiasm?
A: (Answered by a student present at the forum) The event was not mundane,
and the students were encouraged by the opportunity to express themselves
and be taken seriously.
Q: How was the CRF’s cause advanced?
A: The students have been sensitized to the issues, and their interest
peaked. This builds on the previous two for a (North and South), and now
means that students from all regions of the country are being engaged
in discussion on constitution reform.
Next Meeting Date
Saturday 8th March, 2pm – Working Committee Meeting
Saturday 8th March, 3pm – Monthly General CRF
