The Editor, Sir:

The emergence of Obama is testimony of how powerful youth can be when positively embraced and mobilised. With the challenges of Jamaica, in this youth month, we need to reflect on ways in which we can truly indentify and implement a sustainable Jamaican-style, grass-roots youth movement to inspire our young people toward a collective national cause, in a similar way that the Obama campaign brought the active commitment of youth in America.

Our youth are among our most vulnerable, as both victims and perpetrators of crime, victims not only of crimes of today, but the crimes of the past, which have been the crime of the failed politics.

Investments

The inspiration of our young Olympians and Obama should provide the confidence now for more coordinated policies for youth development; a deeper sense of strategic corporate social responsibility among the private sector to provide structured career building opportunities; and greater investments in education, sports and youth entrepreneurship.

Attention to youth has to move beyond token treatment, but as a serious national strategic priority.

I am, etc.,

Mark Pike

National Youth Ambassador

Kingston, Jamaica