Survey finds Caribbean youth want more involvement in shaping regional policies.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – Young people in the 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM) are calling for greater involvement in shaping regional policies and programs, according to findings from the 2026 CARICOM Regional Youth Survey.

The survey attracted responses from more than 550 young people across the Community and revealed strong support for mechanisms that give youth a more meaningful role in regional governance and development.

“The findings will help inform ongoing efforts to strengthen youth engagement within CARICOM and ensure that regional policies and programs are shaped by the voices, experiences, and priorities of young people,” said the Youth Development Program Manager at the Guyana-based CARICOM Secretariat, Michele Small-Bartley.

The Secretariat said the survey findings will inform discussions at the upcoming meeting of senior officials and the Regional Youth Dialogue on Youth Development, scheduled for Wednesday at the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus in Antigua and Barbuda.

An overwhelming 95 percent of respondents said a regional youth governance structure is important, while 92 percent supported developing a CARICOM Youth Development Index.

Respondents said these initiatives could strengthen youth representation, improve decision-making, and ensure policies better reflect young people’s realities.

The Secretariat said that the findings suggest that CARICOM youth want to move beyond being consulted and become active partners in decision-making. Young people said they want to help identify priorities, contribute to program design, and participate more directly in shaping solutions to regional challenges.

The survey also highlighted significant barriers to participation. Seven in 10 respondents cited a lack of information as a major obstacle to engagement. At the same time, 67 percent said they are often unaware of available opportunities—notably, only 17 percent described information on youth policies and opportunities as very accessible.

At least 80 percent of the respondents identified training and capacity-building opportunities; 51 percent called for increased funding for youth-led organizations, while 42 percent identified mentorship from leaders and decision-makers as key measures to strengthen youth engagement.

The survey further found concerns about inclusivity, with respondents identifying youth with disabilities, rural and remote youth, and out-of-school youth as groups most likely to be excluded from participation opportunities.