Minister Gumbs meets with Teen Times to discuss new Youth Cabinet initiative

GREAT BAY--Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (ECYS) Melissa Gumbs met with the staff of Teen Times on Saturday during the group’s weekly meeting to discuss her upcoming Youth Cabinet initiative. The teens also used the opportunity to exchange ideas and make suggestions for the initiative and to question the Minister about several other issues affecting young people across the island.

Minister Gumbs, herself an alumna of Teen Times, has initiated the concept of a Youth Cabinet to encourage young people to take a more active role in governance through a platform where their voices will not be ignored. It is an idea she had identified before being sworn in as Minister, having long advocated for stronger youth involvement throughout her student and political career.

She approached Teen Times to request the group’s assistance in raising awareness once recruitment for the Youth Cabinet begins and public details are released. One of the first questions posed by the Teen Times members was how the Minister would ensure that the voices of the Youth Cabinet members would be heard and not sidelined.

As she has said on previous occasions, Minister Gumbs stressed that youth engagement must be more than symbolic. She explained that, based on her long history of advocating for youth inclusion and empowerment, she has never been one to diminish or dismiss the opinions, ideas, or ambitions of young people, or the vital role they play in shaping society.

In fact, during her recent address at the United Nations, she said: “Too often, youth voices are celebrated on the international stage, but disregarded the moment they ask difficult questions. True respect for youth means standing with them not only when their voices inspire us, but also when their truths challenge us.”

The Minister explained that the Youth Cabinet will serve as a platform for young people to directly contribute to shaping policies and programs throughout her tenure. “This is not a symbolic gesture. It is a deliberate step to ensure that youth participation is structural, meaningful, and respected,” she said.

Teen Times staff pledged their full support to the initiative and committed to encouraging their peers to apply once recruitment begins. They also expressed their willingness to urge school boards to cooperate with the Ministry’s efforts. They also pledged to collaborate with Minister Gumbs on other youth-related projects currently in development, should she require their cooperation.

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