Jahisiah Benoit, a government senator, has been reelected unopposed to head the affairs of the National Youth Council of Dominica (NYCD), for another term (2015-17).
He was elected at the NYCD’s General Assembly which took place on Saturday at the Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU) hall.
“I want to thank you for your active participation in today’s activity and for your reposition of trust in me as the President of the National Youth Council unopposed,” Benoit said after he was elected. “I want to tell you that this is not something I will take for granted. I will continue working from today to the best of my ability to make sure we achieve our goal.”
He and Chairman, Bert Paul, were reelected unopposed.
The following are the Executive and Committee members:
Sharla Gabriel – 1st Vice President
Deon Anselm – 2nd Vice President
Karla Henry – Publicity Coordinator
Michelle Belle – Committee Member
Annelle Lewis – Committee Member
Khan Roach – Assistant Secretary/ Treasurer
The re-elected President congratulated the elected members and said he looks forward to working in collaboration with them.
“I look forward to learning from you as we work over the next two years and to working together with the district youth councils and the registered youth groups to make a positive impact in every community in Dominica,” he said.
He noted as a grassroots executive, they will be visiting each community to “better shape the vision for the council over the next two year period.”
“We will also be considering some of the appointments positions on the Executive so that we can meantime have an inauguration of the entire executive body, so we will be consulting over the next several days to make that process complete and then we will of course be coming back to you the general membership next year at General Assembly 2016 for us to review the work,” he stated. “So the work begins as of today and I want to thank you once again for the support.”
He encouraged all to “continue being a dynamic member of the NCYD.”
Benoit was first elected as President of the NYCD on July 20th 2013.
Saturday’s General Assembly was held under the theme: Empowering Youth to reach their full potential.
This is an issue of ethics. If Mr. Benoit has any ethics in him, he would have declined the nomination on the grounds that he is now serving as a Senator with the DLP and therefore cannot continue to serve as the head of an NGO which is supposed to represent all the youth of the island. Something is definitely amiss here. Maybe this is what Dominica has become, anything goes and morals and ethics are things of the past.
Across the world, there is a need for greater youth participation in development processes such as governance.Active youth participation is a rights-based concept and re-affirms the entitlement of young people to be empowered as strategic partners engaged in development.
This is not just about focus group discussions or youth social activities.
This is about having a strong group of people who will Study the constitution of our Land.. know our laws and challenge the government and other organizations who’s responsibility is to safeguard and protect, to create an environment where youth can THRIVE AND DEVELOP TO THEIR FULL POTENTIAL..
STOP PLAYING WITH THE LIVES OF OUR CHILDREN.
GIVE US FAIR REPRESENTATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If it is to be free, unencumbered to challenge such an association can not be affiliated to any government and for the head of such a movement to be an actual Minister of Government renders its independence nul & void. In effect, it becomes a mouthpiece of government. I am afraid the NYC has been hijacked to provide the ground troops of the labour party in preparation for the next election.
I believe that the Voices of youth in Dominica are not fairly represented.
This is not just a “Youth Group” or a “Youth Organization”… This says National Youth Council of Dominica. Who forms this Council?
How are they elected?
How do we ensure fairness and balance?
How do we ensure that the voices of the entire population are represented?
Do we care that much or do we even want our voices to be heard?
Every district in Dominica should be represented and this should be mandatory. More efforts need to be done, not only through the formation of youth groups but have youth who are actively involved in development processes.
Let us build a culture of independence. A culture of people who can critical analyse and make decisions based on knowledge and not fair.
A people who will stand for justice & who will be concerned about issues such as crime and child abuse
This is not enough, more needs to be done to ensure young people’s voices are heard and that we…
ARTICLE 8, SECTION 4 of the Constitution of the NYCD
“No member of the National Executive shall demonstrate openly in public forum, media appearance, political platform, or at such public events show his partnership to any political party as this may have the potential to undermine the integrity and independence of the NYCD.”
I believe Mr. Benoit and the rest needs an English class. You say you are not in violation of the policy and you are doing exactly what it say you should not. You should not be affiliated with any political party yet you are a senator for a specific party. Help me understand. Anyway is so the country running.
To all those mentioning the constitution, why don’t u state the clause in it which you all are making reference to? If Mr. Benoit’s nomination was illegal wouldn’t the youth development division stop him from being nominated? You all stay on here and comment and you all don’t even know what the constitution of the NYC states. Smh. Congrats Mr. Benoit and continue working in the best interest of the youth of Dominica. Some of us must look past politics.
You dim bat is the constitution of Dominica we talking about, not the NYC. In all cases the Constitution of Dominica is superior, not what Skrit says or thinks. Go and read it before you show your ignorance.
Congratulations Mr. Benoit. I believe you are a Youth Leader with great potential. For all the critics on this board. At least there was an election and the members voted.
I believe the members of the UWP should be the last people to speak of things of this nature. Your belief of \”we can do it but \’pain garde\’ someone else does it;\” is so self-serving, you cannot see the embarrassment; because when you object to things that are so legitimate we have no choice but to go back and remind you when you did something as similar but in an underhand way.
That is where you always falter. Your history is not blemish free and the majority of us are aware of that.
Just congratulate the young man and move on. What is so difficult?
Please can Hon. Edd Registe and Father Sharplais talk to and advise Mr. Benoit of the danger his appointment as President will have on the youth of this country.
I am listening and watching, Dominica is for all.
I am very disappointed in our young people in the NYCD. I cannot believe in 2015 that such a leadership position is not being seeker by other capable youth. For Jasiah to be relented is one thing…hut UNOPPOSED?…. so no other young person in the organization has the vision to lead? Sad. It speaks to the state of mind of the youth and the future of our country. Nevertheless congratulations to Jasiah
Correction
Seeked…..reelected. . ..but….
Or maybe it just speaks to the young man’s competence and leadership skills, which proved him adequate enough that young people of our island saw it fit to RE-ELECT him for another term as President.
those young people don’t even know the meaning of constitution, all they know is politics. that is truly sad… law is outside the window
Obviously, none of them have respect for the constitution. Welcome to Skrit’s club.
Why dont u enlighten us on the constitution?
My fellow Dominican, it is right there on the internet, if you care to read it. Every child after 12 should receive a copy, just like a catechism and if that is a problem for the Govt. to provide I, as a citizen would be happy to contribute to make sure all our people are acquainted with what is their birthright and duties. It is as important as the Bible.
why don’t you research for yourself..
@I am Dominica Go get a copy of the constitution. Stop depending on others. Are you a Skerrit sycophant and beggar? These are the people who ask like that! Listen to Q95 every morning between 6am to 7am, and you will be schooled on the constitution.
Someone please shed some light on this situation… If so many people have an issue with the recently ELECTED executive, why didn’t they show up to vote against them? Anyone who was at the General Assembly can testify that nominations were OPENED to attendees. Why then didn’t the assembly elect people whom they thought could be unbiased, non-partisan, efficient and fair, since so many people seem to think the current bunch lacks those qualities? Also, anyone who follows the NYCD would know that there have been (yes up to the year 2015!) and still are members who do not support the Labour Party. The fact remains that the General Assembly was advertised, opened, free and fair. So instead of sitting behind your key pads and reducing a positive youth-related issue to petty party politics, maybe you should become involved in empowering the youth of our land enough to exercise their right to VOTE for the executive they see fit.
You must be innocent and naive. Jahisiah is a smooth operator, I must give him that. He would never go into an election like that blind and arrangements would have been made well in advance, behind the scenes to ensure that there would be no surprises. The General Assembly is no more than a rubber stamping of the arrangements that were already put into place beforehand. I must say, he learned well from his political masters.
young person according to the constitution of the organization (NYCD), he cannot be part of this and should excuse his self because he is a public servant now. but the problem is that they men get caught up in politics and power and he thinks that he can do whatever he wants because his protector is doing what ever he wants.
Or maybe the young people have just become climatized to the trend now in the country. It makes no sense oppose. They just go with the flow right now
A waste of time is the NYC. This present day NYC just cannot compare with the NYC of the 1970s. The people at the helm do not even understand what a NYC is or its potential.
You mr Benoit has never really inspired me as much……
You are President of National Youth Counil
Senator in Parliament
and still a government contract…
My boy you are a young man….all you were born with is your name.
You were not born with de name labor party benoit…….you writing your history.
This is what you will be known for….forever …it will not leave you….you will remember it in your old age too! You will be reminded by those much younger than you.
You will have regrets!!
Why you allowing DLP to destroy your name so early in life my brother!
Maybe i am just fooling myself!
you loving this…….you were made for it!
EASY AND SWEET AS APPLE PIE!!!
Just look at the names and faces. This is a Labour Party Organisation.All of them are awaiting favours from Skerrit!!
Affiliated to the Communist Party of China. It is curtains for Dominica, bal fini.
The names and faces do you something man? Why don’t u show yours? Chupes
Skerrit bring communism too Dominica that is why we getting poorer and crime rising faster.
This only indicates a justifiable degree of apathy and disinterest in this Labour Party poisoned NYC.
So no one saw anything wrong with allowing a Senator to be re-elected to this position? Really, Dominicans? When the backlash hits then the world will giggle at our willful ignorance as to the dangers of allowing the government to seep into all sorts of organisations – organisations that are supposed to be independent of ANY and ALL government influence, be it actual or perceived!
My thoughts exactly. Man we have reached a sad state in Dominica.
Our youths are seeing trained to accept the one leader no challenge dictatorship ideology now. So there are no other young person in a population of 70,000 that could do equal or better job ? Sad very sad. I am not saying the young man has not done good job but It seems like we are accepting coronations.
This NYCD is just an arm of the Labour Party. I am not surprised. SHAME ON THEM!!!!
The Dominican version of the Communist Youth League of China.