Mark Beckford, Gleaner Writer

NEWBY

Warren Newby is the new president of Generation 2000 (G2K), the group of young professionals affiliated with the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).

Mr. Newby becomes the fourth president of the organisation after being elected to the position at the organisation's annual general meeting at the JLP's Belmont Road, New Kingston headquarters on Saturday.

Three vice-presidents were also elected: Rockey Allen, Dionne McCoy and Robert Miller, while Gregory Mair was returned to the executive as vice-president.

Mr. Newby, who has been a member of the organisation for the past five years, said he will continue the work of the outgoing administration of G2K, by continuing to engage the public with issues affecting the nation. "We will continue to strengthen the organisational capacity of the JLP, and we will continue to research policy positions and put them forward in a timely manner to educate the public on what the JLP is putting forward."

Major focus

Mr. Newby also said that reaching out to the uncommitted and, in particular, young voters will be a major focus of his administration.

"G2K will embark on getting the 18-35 cohort to support the JLP, we will be actively pursuing social projects and environmental projects. Our primary target audience is also the largest portion of the uncommitted in this country, and we will have to carefully strategise as to how we advertise to them and bring new ways forward to engage them in the process," he said.

Meanwhile, outgoing G2K president Dr. Christopher Tufton, who had led the organisation for three years, described his time as a fruitful one in which the youth arm was able to reposition the JLP as an organisationally stronger unit.