Authorities in Barbados and other Caribbean states need to give more youth a seat at the table of decision-making and rely more on local talent when addressing issues such as climate change.This call has come from climate change specialist Dr Masaō Ashtine, who insisted the region could also benefit from a reform of the education system if leaders were serious about tackling the climate crisis.“I think there is a large disparity especially in climate change [and] renewable energy education. Having been a lecturer at Mona (University of the West Indies) in Jamaica, I have seen first-hand that the opportunity does not exist in many capacities, and it is not any one person’s or organisation’s fault, it is a collection, a legacy of things,” said Ashtine.“I think there needs to be more opportunity at a very early stage in integrating the youth into policy decisions and policy-making. We can’t just say that because the youth aren’t fully educated or degreed in certain things means that they can’t be at the boardroom table . . . I mean, this is their future and we are making a lot of decisions on their behalf. At least ask them the question,” he insisted.
