NDP VIEWS – Exciting times ahead for young people under an NDP Government

On Saturday, October 11th 2025, Political Leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP), Honourable Dr Godwin Friday, unveiled his party’s Pledge to the young people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines at the Young Democrats vibrant DJ Sound Clash event. This initiative underscores the NDP’s commitment to empowering our young people.
Dr. Friday outlined four key measures his party will implement when it forms the next government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. These include:
1.Establish the Youth Guarantee Pledge
2.Initiate a National Athlete Program
3.Cut the rate of student loans
4.Develop the National Development Bank and the Innovation Hub
4.Implement E- Commerce payment gateways

These initiatives are aimed to create opportunities for the young people. The Youth Guarantee Pledge affirms that by the end of the NDP’s first term in government, every young person will have the opportunity of a job, placed in a training or education programme or an internship. To complement the Youth Guarantee Pledge, the NDP has outlined a series of strategic initiatives aimed at fostering economic development and economic growth. One such initiative is the establishment of the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Centre of Excellence, designed to equip young people with practical skills and enhance their employability. In addition, an NDP government will launch an extensive jobs expansion program, focused on increasing employment opportunities. This initiative will be anchored on the four economic pillars: agriculture, the blue economy, tourism, and the new economy.
To better prepare young people for the future, it is essential to equip them with the education, skills, and training necessary for successful careers. In line with this goal, we will expand the existing scholarship program to provide a broader range of opportunities for youth to pursue higher education. This expansion will enable access to reputable, accredited universities and colleges worldwide, including programs in non-traditional fields such as music, sports, and the arts. By fostering diverse disciplines and innovative pathways, we aim to empower the next generation to thrive in a dynamic and competitive global economy.
The National Athlete Program will ensure that elite athletes, established and emerging athletes have financial support to reach their goals, with the knowledge that they are able to train, compete and have their best chances to win. These hard-working sportsmen and sportswomen deserve our support to achieve their goals which ultimate brings joy to us all and glory for our country.
We recognize that excelling in sports requires athletes to make significant sacrifices, often with limited resources. The current ad hoc approach has proven insufficient in supporting our sportsmen and sportswomen which highlights the urgent need for a comprehensive and strategic solution. The proposed National Athlete Program aims to address these challenges by providing structured support, training, and resources to nurture our sporting talent. Many other countries, including OECS nations have successfully implemented similar programs to achieve sporting excellence and national pride.
We will also pay special attention to the development of sport facilities. We will implement a framework for upgrading and management of sports facilities at constituency and community level. An NDP government will implement a Service, Opportunity and Support framework, which will ensure that sporting facilities are upgraded to accommodate their respective sporting disciplines. Community Sport Councils will be developed and sustained eagerly taking ownership of the maintenance of the established facilities and supporting the programs for physical activity and sport in their respective communities.  We will also develop at least one playing field in each constituency to the extent that it can accommodate regionally organized sports. These facilities will be fully lit and will have stands and changing facilities. And, develop projects to convert the surfaces of playing fields into artificial surfaces, particularly in areas where grass does not grow properly.
The sport of swimming should be at a much higher level at the competitive arena. As a result, the NDP will construct a National Aquatic Centre to attract national, regional and international competitions and to grow the sport locally. Other areas of development that the NDP will focus on include the construction of a national indoor sports complex, floored with special sport flooring materials, to accommodate sports such as basketball, volleyball, netball, tennis and squash.
We are committed to establish the Innovation Hub, and a National Development Bank dedicated to addressing the credit challenges faced by local entrepreneurs, especially the youth. The National Development Bank will make financing more accessible and affordable, with a special focus on supporting small businesses that form the backbone of our economy. By doing so, we aim to empower our youth and foster job creation. In addition to providing financial services, the bank will offer essential training and technical assistance across sectors that young people are interested in, such as agriculture, new economy, tourism, fisheries, and small business development. It will also play a vital role in human resource development, ensuring that our young people have the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in a competitive economy.
The evidence is clear. The Unity Labour Party government has failed our young people. Youth unemployment remains alarmingly high at 41%, and the migration rate has soared, making it one of the highest in the Eastern Caribbean. Poverty continues to plague too many young individuals, hindering their prospects and potential. With over a third of our population, approximately 36% being 29 years or younger, it is disheartening to see that these challenges have only worsened since the ULP assumed office. This sad situation underscores the urgent need for effective policies that support our youth. This can only come about under an NDP government.
The NDP remains steadfast to empowering the youth of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. We will work assiduously to ensuring that our young people have every reason to stay in St Vincent and the Grenadines and succeed.