Youth Parliamentarians debate abortion and public transport
Youth Parliament participants with (seated, L-R) Premier Alden McLaughlin, Speaker of the House Juliana O’Connor-Connolly and Leader of the Opposition McKeeva Bush, and other government officials
(CNS): More than 20 students from Cayman Brac and Grand Cayman participated in two debates during the ninth Youth Parliament held Monday, 14 March, to commemorate Commonwealth Day. The topics they chose to discuss were legalising abortion and the establishment of a master public-transportation system.
Speakers at the opening ceremony encouraged and congratulated the young people for their participation in the months-long preparatory process. Among those who addressed the session were Premier Alden McLaughlin; Speaker of the House Juliana O’Connor-Connolly; Leader of the Opposition McKeeva Bush, MLA and Youth Parliament Committee chair Alva Suckoo.
Ahead of the session, the students were allowed to choose the debate topics and their roles in the parliament, including whether to serve on the government or opposition benches. Starting in February, they met Tuesdays and Saturdays to prepare for the debates.
The young people have received lectures from members of the Cayman Islands branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, which organises the event annually. Topics included the Legislative Assembly, and the roles of the speaker, the governor, the clerk, the serjeant-at-arms, the government and the opposition as well as parliamentary practices and procedures.
