BAHAMAS CHRONICLE EDITOR’S NOTE: I am extremely proud of this young lady. Amber Turner, who lives in Freeport, Grand Bahama, is the daughter of my goddaughter, Gina Turner, who is the daughter of my very close and dear friend, the late George A. Smith. Amber’s contributions on Facebook are always insightful. I decided to share this brief narrative that accompanied a collection of photos she posted on Facebook today as a Guest Commentary with readers of my Washington, D.C. – based online publication, BAHAMAS CHRONICLE, which has a huge following among the Bahamian diaspora across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom as well as in The Bahamas and the wider Caribbean.
GUEST COMMENTARY: BY AMBER TURNER
FREEPORT, Grand Bahama, May 30, 2024 — Being a delegate at the inaugural SIDS Children and Youth Action Summit in Antigua and Barbuda was such a joy.
During the summit, I made a commitment to ensuring that Bahamian youth voices are heard, empowering them to be agents of change through activism, education, and science.
I was honoured to present the Caribbean region’s pitch on sustainable agriculture alongside Tamoy Campbell, where our region received the silver award.
I am deeply passionate about the challenges our respective small islands face, and this summit underscored the crucial role youth play in addressing these unique challenges.
Youth involvement in these spaces is not just impactful—it’s essential. The future of our SIDS is so bright, and I’m excited to be a part of this journey!
We may be small in size, but our fight is mighty!
EDITOR’S NOTE: The SIDS Global Children & Youth Action Summit (CYAS) was a ground-breaking event aimed at empowering young people from Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to address the complex challenges facing their communities. It was held from May 24-26 in Antigua and Barbuda ahead of the 4th UN SIDS Conference (SIDS4). CYAS brought together a diverse groEup of young leaders to share their perspectives, develop solutions, and take action on critical issues like climate change, poverty, and digital transformation.
