3 of 5 Issues Leriano Selected will be Addressed at NCYD2008 Labour and Immigration Policy, Sustainable Tourism Dev Policy and Land Availability

The Valley, Anguilla: Young people have selected the five topics they would like to see addressed by the Second Annual National Conference on Youth and Development. Land availability topped the polls, having been selected by 38.8% of respondents while 34.2 % selected The New Education Act and Regulations; 33.9 % Labour and Immigration Policy; 33.9 % Managing the Impact of the Global Economic Crisis and 30.3% selected Sustainable Tourism Development Policy.

The topics up for selection were compiled by interviewing various public and private sector agencies about policy, legislation and programmes currently under development that require public consultation and feedback. This approach seeks to ensure that that the topics discussed are relevant to the current development agenda.

The National Conference on Youth and Development is a forum designed to incorporate a youth perspective into the decision making process. It does this by bringing together young people of varying interests and backgrounds to deliberate and provide feedback to public and private sector agencies on policy, legislation, programmes and in general, issues of interest to national development.

Through the conference, young people are provided with the opportunity to contribute to the decision making process, increase their awareness of national development issues and develop leadership and facilitation skills; while government is provided with a mechanism for public consultation.

This year the conference will be held on Tuesday 25th November, 2008 at the Paradise Cover Resort under a bold theme: “We going right up in there! Putting our stamp on the decision making process.” The theme speaks to the determination of young people to be part of the decision making process.

The Conference on Youth and Development is being produced jointly by the Anguilla National Youth Council, the National Youth Ambassador Corps and the Ministry of Social Development, Department of Youth and Culture.