BASSETERRE, Saint Kitts – On May 22, 2026, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Dr. Terrance Drew used the opening of the national Youth Economic Empowerment Bureau Validation Workshop to shine a spotlight on the untapped potential of Saint Kitts and Nevis’ young population, while locking in the government’s pledge to build a supportive ecosystem for youth innovation and entrepreneurship.
Addressing a room of stakeholders, youth leaders and workshop participants, Drew urged the federation’s young people to reject limitations imposed by the nation’s small geographic size and population, adopt a global outlook, and position themselves as active contributors to the fast-interconnected global economy. “The world is your stage, and you must see yourself as capable of competing and succeeding on that stage,” he told attendees, noting that widespread technological advancement and open access to information have opened unprecedented new pathways for young innovators to turn ideas into economic opportunity.
Drew pointed to recent standout successes by local youth groups to illustrate just how much young people in the federation can achieve. The St. Kitts and Nevis Robotics Association, he noted, developed an electronic health record system that earned a top ranking among Caribbean innovations from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) – a recognition that has now translated into a major commercial contract valued at roughly 5 million Eastern Caribbean dollars. He also highlighted the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College AI Association, which took top honors at a regional tech competition after building interactive stock market learning tools to upgrade the government’s ASPIRE Programme, expanding financial literacy access for young people across the country.
“These accomplishments demonstrate that the youth of Saint Kitts and Nevis can compete with anyone in the region and beyond,” Drew said. “Our size does not define our potential.”
The core focus of Friday’s workshop is refining the framework for the upcoming Youth Economic Empowerment Bureau, a new government entity designed to cut through red tape and deliver comprehensive support to young people with entrepreneurial ambitions. Once launched, the bureau will connect emerging youth business owners to critical resources: hands-on mentorship, accessible financing pathways, targeted skills training, and specialized technical support.
The initiative is structured to help young founders meet growing demand for expanded services across Saint Kitts and Nevis, while integrating young people into fast-growing emerging sectors including sustainable tourism, modern agriculture, digital technology, and the creative orange economy. Drew emphasized that economic empowerment is not limited to scaling large enterprises, noting that small and micro-businesses are the unsung backbone of sustained national economic growth.
“We cannot underestimate the power of small and micro businesses,” he said. “A small idea, properly supported, can transform a family, strengthen a community, and contribute to national development.”
Friday’s validation workshop is a key part of the government’s collaborative consultative process, which will gather input from stakeholders to strengthen and fine-tune the bureau’s operating framework before it rolls out formally to the public.