A call for more youth engagement in the constitutional reform process was among the main issues raised at the Jamaica Council of Churches (JCC) Conversation on the Constitution forum hosted by religious leaders at the Bethel Baptist Church in Half-Way-Tree recently.

The call came from attorney-at-law Christina Howell, a member of the congregation of Phillippo Baptist Church in St Catherine, who urged the church community to promote more active youth engagement to engender a spirit of inclusivity and participation.

According to Howell, in an environment which has mainly focused on whether the Constitutional Reform Committee (CRC) should continue the process of seeking a smooth and quick transition to a republican form of government, the process must be seen as a big deal, which requires “unity, inclusivity, trust, honesty, and deep introspection”.

Howell was speaking to a group with almost no teenagers amid noisy responses from some participants, including political historian Jerry Small — brother of the constitutional committee member, retired judge Hugh Small — who demanded that his voice be heard before walking out of the church hall.

However, the disruption did not stop Howell’s insistence that all across Jamaica “young people possess dreams, ambitions, skills, and the potential to develop themselves, their communities, and even the world”.

She insisted that geographical boundaries do not exist in the minds of the youth as they see technology as a great, if not their greatest, asset and not a threat.

“They think differently, engage uniquely, and they are passionate, enthusiastic, driven, bold, and bright. With all these qualities embodied in our youth, the case is even more convincing that they should be included, front and centre, in matters relating to their development and future existence in this country,” said Howell.

She argued that active youth engagement in the constitutional reform process is critical, “and it is important that we understand that anything done for youth, without youth, runs the risk of failure”.

Howell added that active youth engagement presented a perfect opportunity to help build and rebuild trust in the democratic process.

“How loud are the cries of distrust in the process in our land? What better way to rebuild that trust than involving young people in the process so that they feel a sense of ownership, knowing that they have invested their time, as well as their views were heard, perspectives considered.

“However, young people, I must urge that for youth engagement to work you have a responsibility to get involved in the constitutional reform process. We must also seek information. Let us not be found guilty of having an attitude of entitlement, where we expect that information must come to us with no effort on our part to find it,” stated Howell.

She added, “Active youth engagement will ensure that youth from diverse backgrounds can participate meaningfully and equitably in the process to reform their constitution, Jamaica’s constitution. For, like justice, youth engagement must not only be done but must also be seen to be done,” she insisted.

In the end, Howell appealed for public access to both virtual and physical meetings of the reform committee as well as an opportunity to have meaningful discussions to share their perspectives on the proposed changes to the constitution.