Youth urged to shape policies as Guyana, CARICOM mark International Youth Day

Young people across Guyana and the Caribbean have been urged to play a greater role in shaping policies and decisions that affect their lives, as the region observes International Youth Day 2026 under the theme “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations”.
In a message marking International Youth Day on Wednesday, Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, said the theme reflects the shared aspirations of young people despite differences in their countries and circumstances.
“Across different continents and circumstances, young people share the same aspirations and hope for quality education, decent work, good health and wellbeing, and reduced inequalities,” Rodrigues-Birkett said in a message posted by the Permanent Mission of Guyana to the United Nations.
She said young people must continue to be engaged as “shapers and contributors” to policies, describing this as necessary to deliver on their common aspirations.
Rodrigues-Birkett also recognised the contribution of young people in helping to shape a better future, extending greetings to them on International Youth Day 2026.
Similar sentiments were expressed by CARICOM Secretary General (SG) Dr Carla Barnett, who said young people across the Caribbean continue to contribute to national and regional development.
Barnett said the theme highlights the fact that young people come from different countries, cultures and communities but share many of the same goals, including access to quality education, decent work, safety, good health, opportunities and a meaningful voice in decisions affecting their lives.
She noted that young people are pursuing these aspirations against a backdrop of rapid technological change, climate-related disasters, rising living costs, crime and violence, as well as concerns about mental and emotional health.
According to the CARICOM SG, young people have historically contributed to the region’s economies, culture, sport, public institutions and social movements. She said that contribution continues through entrepreneurship, digital innovation, agriculture, climate action, volunteerism, the creative industries and community leadership.
Barnett said youth development is central to regional growth and sustainable development, warning that policies are less responsive when young people’s experiences are excluded from decision-making.
She pointed to the revised CARICOM Youth Development Action Plan, which focuses on areas including education, decent work, access to finance and mental health support, while placing emphasis on entrepreneurship, environmental sustainability, digitisation and technology.
She also highlighted regional initiatives such as the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, the CARICOM Youth Ambassador Programme and the CARICOM Young Professionals Programme, which seek to strengthen links between education, employment, entrepreneurship, mobility and public service.
The SG also drew attention to inequalities in access to opportunities, noting that rural and hinterland youth, young people with disabilities, indigenous youth, migrants, unemployed youth, young women and girls, and those outside education or training face additional barriers.
Barnett encouraged Caribbean youth to put forward their ideas, build connections across borders and use their skills to strengthen their communities and the wider region.
“CARICOM remains committed to working with you in shaping that future,” she said.