15 youth leaders appointed to 2026 UN Advisory Group for Eastern Caribbean

Fifteen youth leaders from across the Eastern Caribbean have been appointed to the 2026 United Nations Youth Advisory Group (YAG), reaffirming the UN’s commitment to placing young people at the forefront of sustainable development in the sub-region.

The YAG provides a platform for youth advocates to support the UN Sub-Regional Team (UNST) by contributing to policy dialogue, programme design, advocacy, and implementation. It ensures youth perspectives inform UN work at national, regional, and international levels, in line with the Youth2030 strategy.

The 2026 cohort, the fifth to be installed, includes both returning and newly appointed members from Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Members, aged 18 to 30, bring experience in community development, climate change, mental health, gender equality, disability inclusion, education, food security, youth crime prevention, and indigenous peoples’ rights.

UN Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Simon Springett, praised past YAG cohorts for their energy and innovation and called for even greater youth involvement to drive transformative change.

“Our youth are our present and our future, and it is clear that we have only scratched the surface of what youth can offer to governments and international institutions. There is need for greater youth involvement in shaping their future,” Springett said.

Rianka Chance of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, returning for her third year as YAG Chair, described the role as both an honour and a responsibility. “We have challenged and supported one another, united by purpose and ambition. I envision the YAG becoming a unifying force across Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean—driving collaboration, advancing the SDGs, and ensuring inclusive youth engagement at every level of decision-making,” she said.

Selection of the YAG cohort is inclusive, ensuring strong representation from marginalized and underserved youth communities, including those working on indigenous identity and social justice. During their one-year term, members will serve as UN Youth Advocates, contribute to implementation of key UN policy frameworks, and engage in advocacy, outreach, and regional forums to advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The 2026 YAG members are: Chair – Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – Rianka Chance; Anguilla – Melissa Edwards; Antigua and Barbuda – Amelia Williams and Shaquan O’Neil; Barbados – Kalan Alleyne and Jovanaa Ifill; British Virgin Islands – Angeleah Cupid; Dominica – Loik Charles and Emmana Jeffers; Grenada – Kerri-Ann Marrast, Zinzee Noel, and Raheem Smith; St. Kitts and Nevis – Hasani McDonald; Saint Lucia – Davianne Alexander and Ethan Leandre.