As the St. Kitts National Youth Parliament Association (SKNYPA) marks its 25th year of fostering civic engagement and youth leadership, the organization is moving forward with concrete plans to shape national youth policy, preparing to submit a comprehensive position paper full of actionable proposals to the country’s government.
The milestone Silver Jubilee parliamentary sitting was held on September 8, 2026, inside St. Kitts’ official National Assembly Chambers in Basseterre. In a unique format that blended youth leadership with experienced political oversight, elected youth parliamentarians took up seats on the government benches, while sitting incumbent Members of Parliament stepped into the role of the opposition. Hasani McDonald led the session as Speaker, supported by Clerk Szczesnyque Smith and Deputy Clerk Tahjaun Walters.
Jalen Monzac, SKNYPA’s President, served as the youth government’s Prime Minister for the sitting. When opening the resolution calling for fundamental systemic changes to expand youth empowerment and inclusive development across the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, Monzac officially announced the upcoming position paper during the closing adjournment. Unlike many closed parliamentary proceedings, the debate’s core focus was directly shaped by public input: residents voted on priorities via popular social media platforms, and additional feedback was collected through one-on-one public interviews. Monzac’s formal presentation integrated these community perspectives, analysis of the national budget, and evidence from successful youth development programs across the Caribbean region.
In remarks to the Assembly, Monzac outlined the group’s core vision, stating: “We want a Federation where our qualifications can lead to work; where our work can support a home; where public services respect our time; and where asking for help leads to care.”
The position paper will carry 12 distinct proposals spanning a wide range of pressing youth issues. Key priority areas include expanded employment opportunities and apprenticeship programs, increased support for youth-led entrepreneurship, public service modernization, integration of artificial intelligence tools to expand youth access to opportunity, affordable youth housing, improved access to Crown land for young people, regional-aligned rent control policies, increased funding for youth community groups and dedicated safe youth spaces, and expanded access to mental health care. Additional institutional proposals include a full national human resource audit, strengthened capacity and services for the national Job Centre, and 24/7 access to counselling and psychosocial support for young people.
Responding to the resolution during the debate, Acting Prime Minister Dr. Geoffrey Hanley, who led the opposition’s response to Monzac’s opening address, committed that the government would conduct a thorough review of all proposals, with an explicit goal of advancing viable recommendations into policy. Hanley was joined on the opposition benches by prominent sitting politicians including Hon. Konris Maynard, Hon. Shawn Richards, Senator Dr. Joyelle Clarke, Hon. Eric Evelyn, and Senator Isalean Phillips. The youth government’s front bench included Deputy Prime Minister Desean Newman, Leader of Government Business Mauriel Knight, Senior Minister Naomi Francis, and seven additional youth cabinet ministers.
Following the debate, participating parliamentarians from both sides congratulated SKNYPA on 25 years of advancing nation-building and civic education for young St. Kittians, praising the depth of research, breadth of coverage, and quality of analysis showcased by the youth participants in the sitting.
ders from across sectors attended the historic sitting, including Attorney General Hon. Garth Wilkin, representatives from local political parties and electoral candidates, envoys from the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan), senior government officials, SKNYPA alumni, family members of participating youth, and general public observers. SKNYPA publicly thanked the National Assembly for its longstanding support of the organization, including continued access to the official Chambers, and local sponsor Toucan Sounds, which provided the event’s sound system free of charge.