Ross Sheil, Staff Reporter

Youths from across Jamaica registering for the 21st Century Youth Jamaica Youth Congress, held yesterday at the National Indoor Sports Centre, St. Andrew. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

Addressing what organisers said was a non-partisan youth event yesterday, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller urged loyalty from her audience to the People's National Party (PNP).

The Prime Minister and Cabinet ministers were invited to the 21st Century Youth Jamaica Youth Congress 2007, which has established itself as an advocacy group for young people. However, the majority of the youths whom The Gleaner spoke with said they had been invited to the event by the PNP.

To much applause, Mrs. Simpson Miller repeatedly played on her past pronouncement that the Government "would not change course" - a quote which has been appropriated in a political advertisement by Generation 2000 (G2K), the young professional arm of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).

Pm urges active interest

"Are you prepared to make sure that no one will change the course of development of our young people?" Mrs. Simpson Miller said. "This is why I encourage you to take part and realise an active interest in politics and government."

Chairman of 21st Century Youth Jamaica, Lawman Lynch, said the organisation decided to invite the PNP politicians in their capacity as the sitting Government ministers. He said invitations had been sent to both the PNP Youth Organisation (PNPYO) and Young Jamaica, a youth arm of the JLP.

Also on the platform, and speaking as PNP candidate for South East St. Ann, Lisa Hanna advised young people to seek out the attendant ministers and volunteer for their campaign teams.

"If anyone would like to speak to me afterwards about the political experience and getting involved in politics, I am free for that," said Hanna.

Job crunch

Lynch, 23, said that, following the $2.5 million event, 21st Century Youth Jamaica would develop its own manifesto to represent the concerns of Jamaican youth. Those youth at the congress, with whom The Gleaner spoke, cited greater educational and employment opportunities as their chief concerns.

"We want to hear what they have proposed for the yutes dem, 'cause we don't hear so much an' we want to hear her (the Prime Minister) and wise up the yute dem," said 27-year-old Damion Watson, of the Winchester Youth Club from Allman Town, St. Andrew.

"Di yutes have talent," added colleague Gary Murray, 27.

"It's just work we want," explained Paul Chambers, 30. "Crime come through a lack of jobs and if a man have no work and a baby and baby- mother, wah him to do?"

ross.sheil@gleanerjm.com