YOUTH OFFICER CALLS FOR INCLUSIVE ACTION UNDER SISA: “BUILD THIS BRIDGE WITH US”

Basseterre, Saint Kitts, October 29, 2025 (SKNIS): The Sustainable Island State Agenda (SISA) came into sharp focus at the Budget 2026 National Forum held at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort today, October 29, 2025, as Aquanjé Robinson, Executive Research Officer in the Ministry of Environment, Climate Action and Constituency Empowerment, delivered an impassioned call for greater youth inclusion in national transformation.

Speaking on the theme “SISA: The Bridge We Are Building Together,” Mr. Robinson described the national development framework as a shared vision grounded in unity, creativity, and accountability. He said the Sustainable Island State Agenda represents “the roadmap through which we redefine how this Federation lives, works, produces, and protects both its people and its planet,” describing it as more than a strategy – but as a bridge connecting the aspirations of generations.

The young environmental officer drew from his outreach with students at the Halliday Smith Primary School in Irsh Town, noting that their drawings captured SISA’s seven pillars – from renewable energy and water conservation to sustainable industries and inclusive social protection. Their creativity, he said, serves as a reminder that sustainability must reflect both environmental stewardship and human well-being.

Mr. Robinson also referenced feedback from high school and community engagements, where young people expressed their hopes for a fairer, more sustainable future.

“Across every voice, one truth was clear. We, the youth, refuse to stand by as the bridge is built,” he stated. “We want to be included in laying its plank, so the future we inherit reflects our blueprint as well. Our message is simple – do not build this bridge for us, build it with us,” said Mr. Robinson.

He commended the Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis for fostering inclusion and empowering young professionals through leadership opportunities, citing his own experience under the mentorship of Minister of Environment, Climate Action and Constituency Empowerment, Honourable Dr. Joyelle Clarke, and the support of Prime Minister, the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew.

“It is about systems that listen, businesses that lead ethically, communities that care, and citizens who choose curiosity over comfort,” he emphasised.He reminded the nation that SISA is not merely a government initiative but a collective mission.

“SISA is not the government; SISA is society. It is you; it is me; it is all of us deciding, each day, that sustainability is not someone else’s duty but our collective destiny,” he said.

The Ministry of Environment, Climate Action and Constituency Empowerment continues to lead national efforts under SISA, ensuring that youth voices, ideas, and innovation remain at the heart of building a Sustainable Island State by 2040.

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