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Tobago Youth Council

The Tobago Youth Council’s existence can be dated back to 1944 under the stewardship of Dr. David B. Quamina. To date, the council has changed hands on several occasions and has been led by many prominent men and woman in the Tobago space serving as an important training ground for our future youth leaders, civil rights activists, and politicians. Some of these noteworthy individuals include: 

  • Mr. Hochoy Charles (Former Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly)
  • Mr. Huey Cadette (Past Assemblyman and former Secretary of Education, Youth Affairs and Sport of the Tobago House of Assembly.) 
  • Mr. Wilton John (Former Director of Youth in the national Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs.)
  • Ms. Shamfa Cudjoe (The current Member of Parliament for the Constituency of Tobago East and Minister of Sport.)
  • Mr. Farley Augustine (Assemblyman in the Tobago House of Assembly) 

 

Though, the Tobago Youth Council possessed these influential figures, it faced many leadership challenges. On a myriad of occasions, the Tobago Youth Council had experienced quiescence, the longest of which occurred during the period 1994-2000. However, it was re-established in 2001, reconstituted and incorporated in 2005. Unfortunately, history repeated itself in the year 2012 whereby another period of abeyance existed and in May 2016, the then executive submitted their resignations. It is with the assistance rendered by the Department of Youth Affairs, a steering committee was established to invigorate the Tobago Youth Council, once more. Notably in the year 2017, a new and vibrant executive council was elected in headed by Ms. Latoya Roberts (President) who managed to keep the executive afloat until the year 2020, where elections occurred in September. The results of this election saw the emergence of a young and dynamic cadre of Executive members. In the past election, history had been made as the Janae Campbell, an 18-year-old member of the Roxborough Police youth club was victorious at the polls and was named the youngest President of the Tobago Youth Council. Notwithstanding, there has been a keen balance in the age- groups represented at the Tobago youth Council as many of our other elected members are seasoned in youth work/community work. Such a balance augers well with the advancement and success of the council.