"A clear vision is lacking." - Youth leaders crave more engagement, inspiration from political parties

 

Two youth leaders are calling for Jamaica's two main political parties to make a greater effort to involve young people in decision-making and the political process.

 

Their call comes in response to the latest RJRGleaner Don Anderson Polls, which show that 18.4% of respondents are uncertain about whom they will vote for, while 19.4% say they are unlikely to vote.

 

Nicholas Lindo, National & International Affairs Executive at the Jamaica Union of Tertiary Students, speaking Monday on Radio Jamaica's Beyond the Headlines, said many young adults feel disconnected from politics because they are often marginalized in national discourse. 

 

"We don't feel like there's a direct dialogue with young persons (or that) we are being involved in what's happening," and that, he said, is "where the disconnect comes in between the political parties and us, as youth."

 

In a similar vein, Perry Cummings Jr., youth advocate and former UWI Mona Guild President,  said both political parties need to share a clearer and more inspiring plan for Jamaica's future to help young people feel more interested and involved in politics, noting that "young people have the power to shift things around."

 

Furthermore, he said there's a need for the parties to articulate "a clearer vision for Jamaica."

 

"Based on my conversations with a lot of young people at the university level, there is still shadow over the main vision for Jamaica. What do we want Jamaica to look like and operate like after the general election? I think that a clear vision is lacking," he said.