MONTEGO BAY, St James — Turks and Caicos Islands Deputy Premier Jamell Robinson has called for a deeper commitment to youth development as a pathway to national progress.

“Nation-building is not a distant goal, it is a present responsibility. Our youth are rising to meet it but they need more than opportunities,” Robinson argued during the installation of Lemar James as the 64th president of the Rotary Club of Montego Bay.

“They need mentorship, inclusion, and the freedom to lead with purpose and authenticity. This is where Rotary’s legacy can shine brightly, bridging generations to empower young leaders,” Robinson said.

“We must not just empower youth, we must walk alongside them and learn from their innovation and energy. Let us include young people in planning, not just execution; trust their ideas, not just their effort; and, lastly, celebrate their impact and not just their potential,” he added.

He also spoke of the need for youngsters to understand and play their role in contributing to the society.

“Voluntary service is the engine of lasting change. Whether it is feeding the hungry, mentoring a student, organising literacy programmes, or planting trees, these acts impact families, communities and generations,” Robinson said.

“Through volunteerism our youth can impact our world in three ways. Number one, cultivate empathy and civic pride; number two, hone real world leadership skills; and number three, discover solutions that often don’t require money, but heart, intention and action,” he declared.

He took the opportunity to appeal to young people to understand how important volunteerism can be for their own development.

“Volunteering is not a sideline for young people, it is a launch pad. It equips them to lead from grass roots initiatives to global stages and prepares them to build a stronger, more inclusive nation,” Robinson said.

He insisted that this fits well with Rotary’s core mission, which is putting people before profit, and community before self.

“I say to our young leaders, our nations need your creativity, your service and your voice — not someday, but today. Step forward with courage!” Robinson said.

That call to action was in line with newly installed President James’ year-long Rotary Outreach for Opportunities, Transformation, and Sustainability (Roots) initiative.

According to James, Roots focuses on youth development, and among the areas of focus will be economics and the field of business.

“We’ll be doing an MSME accelerator as well as… a high school incubator which will tie into upskilling the students of Anchovy High School,” he outlined.

Education is also a priority, and James spoke of plans to look “at a core skills teacher training programme that we will do and that will be in partnership with the district”. He also spoke of plans to reach more students through the launch of two Interact clubs later this year.

“Roots is more than just a project, it’s a promise, a framework for sustainable development, a blueprint for transformation, a declaration that we are not just here to serve, but we are here to build,” James stressed.