Dr Edward Greene, Assistant Secretary-General for Human and Social Development, of the CARICOM Secretariat, is encouraging and advocating a closer relationship between the Diaspora and Caribbean youth; a relationship he describes as “vital to an appreciation of the Caribbean identity.”

“Depending on their socialization, the youth in the Diaspora,” he says, “are increasingly growing away from their Caribbean roots and unless we evoke a culture in which CARICOM takes the lead in making the Diaspora aware of the advantages of identifying with the Caribbean, the gap will only widen.”

Speaking about the success of West Indian Cricket as a source of Diaspora pride in the Caribbean, Greene advocates the need to utilize international and cultural icons as well as creative and cultural industries to reach the youth in the Diaspora.

Greene sees the upcoming Conference on the Caribbean as providing an opportunity through which the CARICOM Commission on Youth Development that is also on a fact-finding mission, could get critical answers to youth-related challenges of concern to both the Caribbean and the United States, such as social capital formation and human and social development.

According to Dr Greene, it is imperative to engage the youth especially in the Diaspora forum to give them an opportunity not just to raise concerns about youth development issues but also to tell their success stories, which would also indicate the positive approach they have taken towards their own development.

In addition, he says, the youth should also explore the possibilities of exchange programs between the Caribbean and its Diaspora that will facilitate a greater understanding of youth policies and cooperation in programs geared towards youth development.

Caribbean youths represented by the CARICOM Youth Ambassadors group are exploring information and communication technologies to develop a greater understanding and appreciation of the CSME. A partnership with the Telecommunications Company Suriname (TELESUR) is being forged to develop a high impact Information and Communication Technology (ICT) project that is expected to engage Caribbean Youth in competitive activities that will promote the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME). This is one area where the youths of the Caribbean and the Diaspora can explore together.