Youth Parliament confronts HIV/AIDS
Their behaviour as model legislators was exemplary. And while today’s youth parliament may have lacked the theatrical fireworks of the real thing, the serious mood only underlined the importance of the debate. Patrick Jones reports from Belmopan.
Patrick Jones, Reporting
They are not the usual faces we see in the House of Representatives, but the twenty-nine men and women who occupied Parliament’s Lower House today came to Belmopan to present their concerns to the nation’s leaders themselves.
With the elected representatives giving up their seats, at least for this one day, young people from all over the country voiced their opinions on HIV/AIDS.
Seven motions relating to HIV/AIDS were put forward and debated by both sides of the House. These included increasing the number of trained youth officers; a comprehensive sex education curriculum; debt write-off, with the money used to help at risk youths; inclusion of HIV/AIDS care in the National Health Insurance scheme; establishment of national AIDS centres; low income houses for people infected and affected by the disease; and an orphanage for children with HIV/AIDS.
Crystal Mendez, Leader of the Opposition
“Madam Speaker I rise to forward a question with regards to the first motion presented by the Honourable Representative of Freetown. Based on what criteria will the proposed fifteen youth officers be designated to meet the needs of the Youth Department and community? And, from where will the financial resources be obtained to support the training of these youths if they are not already trained, and how do you propose to meet the long term cost for employment, especially in today’s financially challenged economy?”
Candace Westby, Corozal South East
“Madam Speaker, I rise to address this debate. Youth officers will not be chosen based on race, age, sexual orientation and sex, and status in society. However, they will be chosen based on the following criteria: they must be qualified, responsible and patient. They must be experienced in healthcare and or counselling. They must have a wide background knowledge of HIV/AIDS; they must be tolerant in dealing with people affected by HIV/AIDS. And by being tolerant we mean that they must not be prejudiced nor biased. And last, but definitely not least, they must possess an inner passion for dealing with people living with HIV/AIDS. Therefore, based on the above mention criteria the fifteen youth officers will be chosen. Thank you.”
But while the debate was lucid, the practicality of the suggestions made by the parliamentarians was not lost amidst the excitement of this first of its kind debate.
Patrick Jones
“The motions that were put forward, are they workable?”
Luwani Cayetano, Speaker of the House
“I believe so. Some of them will need some serious in depth thinking with both the youths and government because they’ll need to understand where exactly we’re coming from and not misunderstanding them. But I believe that they are totally workable.”
Daniel Pascual, Prime Minister
“To me the motions are really workable and I think our Prime Minister should indeed look at some of these motions because what is put by the youths is the youth’s concern, right. So many of the youths they know what’s going on, so only they can really give a comment on what is really going on. So the Prime Minister I think should really look at some of these motions.”
The issues of HIV and AIDS that were raised by the young people in the House of Representatives this morning are considered most critical to their role in the nation’s development. But why did they have to come all the way to Belmopan to get voices heard?
Ivan Lucario of Youth for the Future, says it was a practical decision.
Ivan Lucario, Youth Officer, Y.F.F.
“I think when they have the feel of it, the actual feel, sitting in these chairs, sitting in the building like real politicians do, they understand how it feels to do something like this. It’s like in a classroom and they are teaching these youths about machinery and they never get to see the machine. They won’t understand the whole concept, but the whole practical part of it will make them realise that I can do this. This is my job, I should be part of this whole issue.”
But now that the talking is done and the young people have had their say, is this the end of it all?
Ivan Lucario
“This debate is over, but the debate on HIV is not. What we’re planning to do is have a national debate on it, also using some of these youths and other youths in our community, because we know now that a lot of youths want to be involved in things like this. Also, with the young people from the parliament, the parliamentarians, they will come to the Youth for the Future now and be part of our National Youth Council.”
The young people say they were encouraged by the support and are further encouraged that at least for one day, they had the attention of our national leaders.
Daniel Pascual
“Well for me the debate went well, because my leading government, we did many research and I was contacting many of the members, so we really came strong. But some of the questions were rally hard for us to answer so we really had to put them off. But then on the other hand we answered many good questions and came up with some very good ideas.”
Crystal Mendez
“The Prime Minister and designated leaders of many organisations stated this morning in the opening ceremonies that yes, this is our time. Our time to present our issues on how we think this problem could be addressed. So yes I think the adults and the leaders of our country will indeed consider what we presented today in this parliament.”
Representing the United Democratic Party at today’s forum, Collect Area Representative, Patrick Faber, commended the organisers of the Youth Parliament and especially the participants for embracing the challenge of dealing with HIV/AIDS.
Patrick Faber, Area Representative, Collet
“Warning the world about HIV/AIDS may seem too strong and ambitious a mission, but it is one that is necessary. To imagine that this problem is none of our concern here in Belize would be a major error in judgement. If we hide our heads in the sand in order not to see the problems, we would not get anywhere towards being able to face up to them. I am particularly happy to see that is the young people of our country who are taking up the challenge today, as we are indeed the majority of this country’s population and if change is to come it will come with us.”
And Prime Minister Said Musa gave his assurance that the recommendations coming out of the Youth Parliament will be taken seriously.
Prime Minister Said Musa
“We acknowledge that HIV was more than just a health issue, but a developmental one, with major implications for our socio-economic survival. Just this week, our Cabinet made the momentous decision to place the National AIDS Commission within the Office of the Prime Minster and table a special law to that effect to legislate for the National AIDS Commissioner. This highlights the priority we attach to our national response to HIV/AIDS. As we strengthen our commitment and our strategies, we continue as a country to battle with an epidemic that is vicious and unrelenting.”
Patrick Jones, for News 5.
