New Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Justina Charles, has expressed enthusiasm about her position.
Charles, a nurse by profession, was sworn in on Monday. She told reporters that while she is “outside of health” there is an interrelation between sports, health, and youth.
“Very often you find that there are quite a few programs in health that impact on youths. There are also a lot of challenges that the country’s youth face as health workers. I am already quite knowledgeable on some of the constraints and challenges that our youth face,” she explained.
Charles, the wife of late Prime Minister Pierre Charles said she learned a lot from her late husband,and she is ready to take over from where he left off.
“I will continue some of the vision of my late husband. He was very concerned with the young people in Grand Bay. He always wanted them to be better people. I will do all I can to make programmes available to assist them,” Charles promised.
She also called for the improvement of sporting facilities around the island.
I am extremely happy to hear about your success Mrs Charles. Since our encounter at UTECH in Jamaica you have indeed left me with very fond thoughts of you. Thoughts that will stay with me forever. I do hope that we will have another opportunity to meet again when you visit Antigua.
All the best and I am confident that you will continue to ensure that the job as Minister in that ministry is done to the very best.
Love and best wishes Justina
My thumbs up for Mrs. Charles, walking in her husband’s foot step. She is a past scholl mate of mine and I can surely state that she is a dedicated and positive person. We need more women in the success of the youth and culture. put your best foot forward and your work will be well done. You go girl, Keep up the good work and make women and dominica proud.
Good luck in your new field of profession and God’s hands will be laid upon you as you move into your term of office.
I am a resident of Dominica now residing in the UK. Justina’s husband was related to my husband.
I am very glad to see that she has been elected in her current position to enable her to help to motivate the Youths within the vacinity of where she live.
I believe the Youths need such help to motivate them to make other residents in the Community realise and witness that Youths og today have a lot to offer, but they need someone (like Justina) to give them an incentive in life and a sense of belonging. I guess she knows what to aim for to achieve her goal !! having witnessed the strenth and weakness of the Youths in the Community – at the same time, she will need time/guidance and co-operation to make this a success.
I guess as her late husband was once the Prime Minster, some will expect her to expaedite things more swiftly, but as we all know “Rome was not built in a day! so she will need support/respect and appreciation to achieve this wonderful “VISION within the COMMUNITY” . I also admire her to take on such a task… No doubt her late husband will be guiding her along the way……
WELL DONE!!!
but why wasn’t she given health ministry?
I must make this remark before I state my comments. I would like, for the NEW YEAR 2010,that some of the people in Dominica who are not too certain how to spell a word, before writing their comments, please check the dictionary first.
Kristal, I am referring to the words “corruption” and “integrity.” I mean no offense to you; this is just constructive criticism.
My comments on the youth of Dominica.
Now that Ms. Charles is in charge of this ministry, the young people should be involved in after school activities, like netball, cricket, swimming,dance classes etc. There should also be an after-school program to assist some of the kids,whose parents work until 6pm,and those who need help with their school work and homework.Their should be a boys and girls club where the kids, instead of walking the streets aimlessly and getting into trouble, could go and participate in games, and interact with their friends in a supervised capacity.
Congratulations Mrs Charles!
Mrs Charles can utilise her role as a mother, her role as community activist and her nursing background to echo the link, importance and benefits of sports to health to influence our youth in our society.
Sports play a pivotal role in the makeup of a young person, especially in the middle school to high school years where young persons are more mature and mentally developed. Where else can a young, impressionable youth learn values like discipline, responsibility, self-confidence, sacrifice, and accountability? Television, which may be the most influential tool in the lives of young people does not show enough of these qualities, nor is it on the Internet, or radio. Rather it is up to the government, parents, teachers, sports teams, and after school programmes to help mould, develop, and instill these qualities into the lives of the youth.
The importance of sports in the life of young persons is invaluable and goes much further than the basic answer that it keeps youth off the streets. It does in fact keep youth off the streets, but it also instills lessons that are essential in the life of the youth. A sedentry lifestyle can lead to increased weigh gain and ultimately, childhood obesity. Obesity in adolescence is associated with the premature onset of Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases (high blood pressure, heart disease).
Prevention and management of obesity requires a range of co-ordinated policies to improve diet and physical activity levels in the early years, at schools, and in families and communities. It should be a statutory requirement for all schools to implement policies on nutrition and physical activity. The advent of TV/computer games have driven our youth to lead sedentry lifestyle by reducing the among of time young people spend outdoors ‘burnng off energy’.
Government strategies for youth and sports should aim to get more children and young people taking part in high-quality physical education and sports and a healthier eating lifestyle.
Sports facilities/leisure centres must be made available in every village to mobilise, motivate and engage the youth into a variety of sporting activities.
Indeed, the high consumption of fast foods among Dominican youth needs to be addressed and examined. Dominica has an abundance of fruits and vegetables – we’ve got to consume what we grow! Schemes should be created to encourage young people to consume more fruits and vegetables in their diet, instead of high-sugary, high-salt and high-fat, fast foods.
Government policies should be implemented to impose reasonable restrictions on the advertising of unhealthy foods, which is directly aimed at the youth (based on the content of the advertisement to lure consumption amongst youths).
Health education/promotion in the curriculum of all school (kindergarden – to college/university level) is paramount! Example – healthy eating and increased physical activity/sports.
Certainly, Mrs Charles is very capable of excelling in this Ministry!
A Very Proud Health Professional!
I AM VERY HAPPY TO HEAR THAT MRS CHARLES HAS DECIDED TO TAKE UP FROM WHERE HER HUSBAND LEFT OFF,HOWEVER,PIERRE CHARLES WAS NON-CURRUPTED AND HAD A LOT OF INTEGRETY,I HOPE SHE WILL FIGHT CURRUPTION IN THE LABOR GOVERNMENT.
congrats on your position in cabinet. the youth are the future of this blessed country and with your help we can make it. Use your position wisely, continue to have faith in God and he will give you all the inspirations that you need to improve the youth in our society. Your first plan is already a great one
I have worked with Nurse and she is a great person with a good heart. I am not a Labourite per se but she has my unwavering support!