Students prep for mock parliament
(CNS): Twenty-two of tomorrow’s potential politicians are currently preparing themselves for their first parliamentary experience when they take centre-stage in the Legislative Assembly later this month. Cayman’s fourth Youth Parliament will take place on Commonwealth Day, Monday 14 March, at the country’s seat of government, hosted by the Cayman Islands Branch of the Commonwealth ParliamentaryAssociation. This year 10 girls and 12 boys will participant and are busy honing their debating skills and learning the processes to be parliamentarians for a day. The day’s debate will also commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.
Coaching the would-be politicians is a committee comprising MLAs Dwayne Seymour (Bodden Town – Chairman), Ellio Solomon (George Town); Deputy Speaker Cline Glidden Jr. and Capt. Eugene Ebanks (both West Bay) and Moses Kirkconnell (Cayman Brac and Little Cayman) as well as Clerk of the Legislative Assembly Zena Merren-Chin. Deputy Clerk Sharon Smith and Assistant Clerk Nana Bothwell are also helping out.
The junior parliamentarians from the University College of the Cayman Islands (UCCI), John Gray, Clifton Hunter and Cayman Brac High Schools, CI Further Education Centre, Cayman Prep and High, St. Ignatius High and Cayman International School, are meeting every Tuesday and Saturday.
The group have divided themselves into government and opposition members as well as choosing Cabinet members, the governor, the speaker, clerk and Sergeant-at-Arms, the participants also chose topics for two debates.
“With the hard work all are putting in, especially our young parliamentarians, we are aiming for a memorable performance,” Chairman Seymour said.
Category: Local News
Perhaps the first things our promising up-and-comers should debate is the utter failure of the existing system.
Otherwise, they are simply aspiring to be the same losers as our current losers.
Any system that is elected by the people to serve itself is fatally flawed.
This is NOT democracy. If it were, we not be complaining so much.
Or they could just sit there and throw their rattles at each other.
I like to read stories like this about promising young people for a change. We all know they are out there but we seldom hear about them and their good activities.
Mr.Travis Ritch is perfectly correct. Please do not ridicule this event. It is very worthwhile. I attended it a few years ago, and even as an ex MLA, learned a lot.
What is Dwayne, Eliio and especially Capt EUGENE going to teach anyone?
how to get PAID FOR DOING NOTHING?! If anyone should be teching these kids anything it is a man of integrity like Mr. Anthony Eden!
Please let them stay in there for a long period of time.I am sure they will grasp the depth of problems that we have far better than our paid members and get along much better as well.Hope our "ousted members for the day"will take note of how to be civil to each other.
Oh great, El Capitano can teach them how to twiddle their thumbs and say “aye” every now and then. Ellio can provide a lesson in breaking, entering and ranting. Dwayne can teach them a few moves that might come in handy outside the Club on Friday night. Just what we need.
There is no need. Parliament mocks itself on a daily basis.
Did one of them spout mad ideas and shout down any criticism in a bizarre infantile way while the majority of the participants either nodded or flew away on pointless trips?
Did the talented intelligent ones not participate at all leaving a mediocre self-important rump to take all the places?
Did the most mediocre ones set up businesses which suddenly were awarded government contracts?
Now that would be a very realistic mock assembly.
I am very pleased to see that this event is beingheld again. It is a valuable learning opportunity and a great privilege to speak in the Assembly. Best wishes to all of the participants.