On May 7, 2026, the National Assembly Chambers of St. Kitts played host to an unprecedented legislative event: the first ever dedicated Youth Parliament sitting focused entirely on the critical issue of reparatory justice, organized jointly by the St. Kitts National Youth Parliament Association (SKNYPA) and The Repair Campaign. This landmark gathering marked a pivotal moment for youth advocacy in the Caribbean, centering young voices in one of the region’s most pressing contemporary social justice movements.
Leading the proceedings was Jalen Monzac, current SKNYPA President, who stepped into the dual role of Youth Prime Minister and Minister of National Security to table the landmark resolution titled *Advocating for Reparatory Justice: A Youth Call for Decisive Action*. The four-pillar proposal put forward by young leaders called for four key actions: embedding reparations education into national curricula, expanding structured opportunities for youth participation in reparatory justice advocacy, establishing a dedicated National Reparations Recovery Fund, and extending full formal support for the implementation of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)’s widely recognized Ten Point Plan on Reparations.
The resolution itself was crafted by Mauriel Knight, a former SKNYPA President and Special Advisor to the organization’s Parliament Committee, who also served as Speaker of the Youth Assembly for the historic sitting. In the lead-up to the debate, SKNYPA prioritized rigorous preparation, hosting targeted consultations with leading local and regional reparations experts to equip youth participants with accurate context and nuanced understanding of the issue. Key contributors to these pre-debate sessions included human rights lawyer Talibah Byron, Carla T. Astaphan (Chair of the St. Kitts-Nevis National Reparations Committee), and Professor Don Marshall, Director of the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies at the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus.
When debate got underway, both government and opposition youth parliamentarians delivered passionate, well-researched contributions that connected the historical harm of chattel enslavement to modern systemic challenges facing Caribbean communities. Participants drew explicit links between historical injustice and contemporary issues including climate vulnerability, systemic economic inequality, gaps in accessible education, weak governance frameworks, and structural barriers to youth empowerment. Supporting the smooth running of the sitting was Cadet Sergeant Huggins E. of the St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force Cadet Corps, who fulfilled the traditional role of Sergeant at Arms for the historic event.
The sitting drew a full audience to the National Assembly’s public gallery, with attendees including secondary and tertiary students, organizational representatives from The Repair Campaign, and community supporters of the youth parliament movement. Notably, the event was also attended by Saint Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister, Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew, signaling high-level recognition of the youth initiative.
Reaction from veteran justice advocates has been overwhelmingly positive. Elsie Harry, a Reparatory Justice Consultant and Community Organizer for The Repair Campaign and a former SKNYPA member herself, praised the deep commitment young participants brought to the debate. “What stood out most to me was the seriousness with which the youth parliamentarians approached the issue,” Harry shared in her remarks after the sitting. “Their contributions demonstrated not only strong research and preparation, but also a sophisticated understanding of the interconnected nature of reparatory justice.”
She added that the final resolution reflected thoughtful, forward-looking policy planning that showcased the intellectual maturity and civic consciousness of St. Kitts and Nevis’ young population. “This should give the Federation great confidence in the capacity of its young people,” she noted.
Carla Astaphan, who attended the sitting in person as a leading regional reparations leader, echoed that praise, noting she was deeply impressed by the quality of presentations delivered by SKNYPA participants during this first-of-its-kind youth debate. She also highlighted the cultural significance of the event, noting that participants’ attire – which blended formal professional wear with African-inspired regalia – added a deeply meaningful, creative layer to the proceedings. Astaphan added that the combination of rigorous analysis and light moments of humor kept audience members fully engaged from the opening of the sitting to its close.
The collaborative event between SKNYPA and The Repair Campaign is part of a wider regional push to expand youth engagement in reparatory justice conversations across the Caribbean. For SKNYPA, this sitting aligns with the organization’s core long-term mission: fostering active civic participation, building public policy literacy, and nurturing the next generation of ethical, informed leaders across St. Kitts and Nevis.