At the 2025 Youth Speak-Off Finals, held on Saturday night at Golden Square Freedom Park, Tykairi Sargeant of the Men’s Empowerment Network delivered a powerful plea for unity in addressing Barbados’ rising crime rates. Sargeant questioned the future of society if current trends persist, emphasizing the collective responsibility of citizens to foster safer communities. He highlighted emotional intelligence as a cornerstone for positive behavioral change and underscored the critical need for mental health awareness, particularly among young men, who often face societal pressures leading to unresolved trauma and unhealthy coping mechanisms. The event, themed ‘From Fear to Citizen Empowerment: Safer Streets, Stronger Communities,’ was organized by the Criminal Justice Research and Planning Unit (CJRPU) in collaboration with the National Peace Programme. Lumiere Clarke of King’s Trust International secured second place, while Romarr Corbin of the Barbados National Youth Parliament took third, both advocating for empowerment and community-driven action. The eight finalists, including Roshauna Clarke, Ashriel Bernabé, Peter Sandiford-Scott, Relissa Mitchum, and Dequan Thompson, presented compelling arguments on crime prevention and citizen responsibility. CJRPU Director Cheryl Willoughby praised the participants for their courage and contributions to research-informed crime prevention strategies. Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Kirk Humphrey lauded the youth as future leaders, emphasizing their resilience and leadership. The competition awarded $2,000 to the first-place winner, $1,000 for second, $500 for third, and $200 to each remaining finalist.