On July 7th Hotel Laurena hosted the Youth Parliament Debate. The debate was conducted with the same formalities and processes as if it were Grenada’s real House of Parliament.
The young people taking part represented both the Government and the Opposition. They debated the motion – ‘Should sand mining on Carriacou and Petite Martinique be banned?’
It may have been just a mock Parliament but the way the exercise was conducted, meant it felt just like a real Parliamentary debate. The 15 youths representing the number of seats in the beautiful, southern Caribbean Country House of Parliament, made full use of the facilities at the venue.
Youth Parliament debate was conducted to such a level of professionalism that it felt just as if it were the real Parliament considering an issue
The scene was set with the roles of:-
- Prime Minister
- Finance Minister
- Minister of Agriculture
- Minister of Youth
- Minister of Tourism
- Minister of Health
- Minister of the Environment
- Minister of Legal Affairs
- Minister of Labor
The Opposition was led by Melissa Fortune, with six other members who represented various communities in Carriacou and sister Isle of Petite Martinique.
The acoustics were excellent and the audience was transfixed, listening to the words of the various speakers as the debate unfolded. Members of the audience seemed to be very comfortable and appreciative of their surroundings. The circular seating plan for the Members of Parliament gave the setting an air of authenticity, as if this were the real Parliament.
The exercise was sponsored by Dr Christofer Ashby, an American benefactor who owns properties here on Carriacou. He appeared comfortable and relaxed as he listened to the various speakers, hammering home their respective points on the issues.
Elvin Nimrod, the Member for Carriacou and Petite Martinique affairs and a former Minister for Legal Affairs and Minister of Foreign Affairs also attended the event.
The Champion trophy was presented to Keron Bristol, who played the role of Prime Minister, by Mr Nimrod. The award for Best Presenter went to Sebastien Still, who played the Minister of Agriculture.
Mr Nimrod spoke highly of the level of the debate by the respective Government representatives and Members of Parliament, and of the manner in which the decorum of the house was maintained by the Speaker of the House.
He also heaped high praise on the owners of Hotel Laurena for providing such a pleasant and comfortable facility which offers such an excellent level of service and professionalism. The youths endorsed Mr Nimrod’s comments adding that the venue had brought out the best of everyone involved in the debate. The venue’s size, layout and professional level of service makes the hotel ideally suited for this type of event.
