Philipsburg:---Commissioner responsible for Youth Affairs Maria Buncamper-Molanus said that government is willing to cooperate with the BES islands on areas of mutual interest.
The Commissioner met with Dutch Minister of Youth & Family Affairs Andre Rouvoet on Friday last to express exactly that. The meeting was added to the Minister's itinerary upon the request of Commissioner Buncamper to Dutch Representative Rob Vermaas. During the meeting held in the VIP room on PJIA
The Commissioner was accompanied by Shermina Powell-Richardson of the Sector Youth Affairs and made short presentations to the Minister on a number of topics. These included the "Quick Scan on Poverty Alleviation programs Windward Islands", in which the target youth is mentioned numerous times regarding lack of facilities, integration of youth in the labor market and training facilities geared towards the needs of the local labor market.
Also discussed were the "The Integrated Youth Policy Plan", "Safety Plan St. Maarten", which includes a specific component for the youth, the "Youth Justice Facility Windward Island", and the "Community Help Desk" whose target group is the whole population of St. Maarten with as a special target group youth and parents in need of assistance. Sports projects and the "Youth Residential Care" program were also touched on.
The Commissioner thanked the Minister for taking time our to meet with her on these very important issues and looks forward to working together with the BES islands which in the end will only benefit the youth of the various islands.
