Youth voices, bold visions for peace: Commemorating UN Day 2024 in Trinidad and Tobago

Standing at the lectern atop the Central Bank Auditorium stage, Krisann Bedassie had a captive audience of Government, UN and development leaders in front of her.

The 17-year-old spoken word poet grasped the microphone, stared out at the dozens of people staring back at her, and asked sincerely:

Are we where we're supposed to be?

Is this the life of peace and security

the founding leaders and mothers and fathers

wanted us to achieve? As leaders of today you have to know

that it's not just titles

it's the love that you give

using your voices to let humanity live

so when they ask you what it means to lead

remember it's not power, it's planting a seed.

Her reflections on peace and security - a pillar of the UN Charter and the organisation's work around the world - resonated deeply with the powerful audience. She reminded them that, when the UN was founded in San Francisco in 1945, those who signed the UN Charter envisioned " a world where leaders would set the example and solve wars with ballpoint pens, instead of missiles, soldiers and bullet ends... a world where power lies in what we defend."

It was a point of introspection at the UN Day 2024 Partners and Staff Reception hosted by the UN Country Team in Trinidad and Tobago. The centrepiece of the event, held on October 30 at the Central Bank Auditorium, was performances by three young creatives with bold ideas and inspiring visions for a better world. Their songs and poetry left the audience of UN staff, Government policymakers and development partners with a renewed commitment to sustainable development. 

Extempo artiste, Mark Howell-Paul, and spoken word poet, Imani Miller, joined Krisann to deliver performances that touched on social cohesion, mental health and social inequality.

Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, Dr. Amery Browne, noted that the Declaration on Future Generations coming out of the Summit of the Future called on countries to create the spaces and platforms for young people to fulfil their potential as agents of change.

"To the young people gathered here with us this evening, your lives and your talent are testament to the existence in this country of an unusual volume of potential," Minister Browne said during his remarks. "Our first Prime Minister, Dr. Eric Williams, famously said that the future of this country lies in the school bags of our children. I respectfully wish to add that it also lies in appropriately-used smart devices...in poetry, in spoekn word, in other forms of artistry, on the sporting field, and in other endeavours found in the wide menu of youth devevlopment programmes and training options available for our young people. You are the product of your choices and decisions and young people, you must be symbols of hope."

He echoed the call in the Pact for the Future for a global standard for meaningful youth engagement. Minister Browne also underscored the "invaluable contribution" of the United Nations to the development of Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean region."

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