US initiative for Carib youths welcomed by government

The Government of Jamaica says it welcomes the announcement that the United States plans to support hundreds of young people in the Caribbean through a US$ multimillion education and employment programme. 

Yesterday, US President Barack Obama launched the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative at a youth meeting with regional young leaders at the Mona Campus University of the West Indies.

Speaking to The Gleaner/Power 106 News Centre this morning, Youth Minister Lisa Hanna said she was heartened at the announcement. 

According to her, the initiative demonstrates the importance of young people to the US leader. 

She adds that youth issues have been critical to Obama, who she says was first elected president in 2008 with strong youth support. 

Obama says US$70 million is to be made available to the programme that will benefit up to 250 young leaders from around the region by next year. 

Under the programme, hundreds of regional youth will be able to visit the United States and access world-class training and resources to help in developing themselves and their countries.