Two Caymanians join future parliamentarians
Chauntae Martinez
(CNS Local Life): Two young people are in Jersey this week representing the Cayman Islands at the ninth Commonwealth Youth Parliament (9th CYP). Chauntae Martinez (19) and Adrian Stewart (21) join the more than 50 Commonwealth youth delegates aged 18 to 29 at the parliament, hosted by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and the States Assembly in St Helier, Jersey.
Martinez has participated in the Cayman Islands Youth Parliament for three years including last year when she was the speaker. She is studying for an associate’s degree at the University College of the Cayman Islands. Stewart headed the government bench as premier in the Cayman Islands Youth Parliament in 2014 and was also a part of the delegation at the 10th Regional Youth Parliamentary Debate in Barbados. He is a medical student at St Matthews University.
According to a CPA press release, the weeklong Commonwealth Youth Parliament provides a key development opportunity for young people from the Commonwealth with ambitions of public office, designed to demonstrate the fundamentals behind the processes of parliament.
Adrian Stewart
The CYP gives participants a pan-Commonwealth experience and a valuable networking opportunity with other participants as well as with current Members of Parliament from different jurisdictions who act as mentors throughout the week. The CYP offers participants an opportunity to experience one of the key institutions which underpin democracy and good governance, the release stated.
In a departure from previous years, the 9th CYP will, in recognition of the non-party system in the States Assembly in Jersey, have participants acting as the government, opposition and independents sitting together, allowing for the wider sharing of opinions and engagement in debates.
Participants will experience a real-life situation in the legislative chamber. The programme will include taking part in parliamentary procedures, debating legislation and motions, and facing the media in a mock press conference, the release said.
Category: Youth
