Punta Gorda Launches Youth Month With Culture and Community Spirit

Youth Month is dedicated to various activities and initiatives aimed at empowering and engaging youth in the community. In Punta Gorda, a Sunday morning ceremony was held to welcome the month. The ceremony saw a host of government participants and many cultural performances by my local youths. Paul Mahung was there, and here are the details.

Paul Mahung, Punta Gorda Correspondent: “During Sunday morning’s ceremony, welcome remarks were said by Mayor Carlos Galves.”

Carlos Galvez, Mayor, Punta Gorda Town: “Today is a reflection  and we must be very careful in the direction that we are going.  We have to find a way to reach out to our young people. We have to find a way to engage them more.  It’s very, very serious.  As I stand before you  this morning,  as we kick off  the Youth Month, I am happy that we have this opportunity. I’m happy  that we have  this program right here in P.G. at the Central Park.  The theme: ‘Youth Empowered, Connected, and Thriving For National Development.’ Our partners who continue to believe and invest  in our young people, welcome.  The young people of Belize are not just the leaders of tomorrow, they are the heartbeat of today.  To all our youths present here, keep shining, keep showing interest,  keep striving.  When you rise, our entire nation  rises with you.”

Paul Mahung, Punta Gorda Correspondent: “Deputizing for guest speaker Toledo East representative Honorable Dr. Osborne Martinez was former PG Mayor Anthony Fuentes.”

Anthony Fuentes, Former Mayor, Punta Gorda Town: “Youth Empowered, Connected and Thriving for National Development. Very, very important team. In 2025, approximately 26 % of Belize’s population is between the ages of 0 to 14 which is about 10,000 people and 38.86 % of the working age population are young dependent. This means people under 15 years old. Additionally, 70 % of the population is under the age of 35, representing a very young nation. This is the 2021 figures. I listened fellow youth and adults present here today, keenly to Ms.  Marisa Cervantes.  She is the president of the Belize Youth Movement  and she stated that the youths are not only for the future, but are the present.  She further stated that there has to be collaboration with government and the other stakeholders to have a national youth plan.  She concluded her statement by saying that they want to develop  a youth culture where positivity  is  promoted.  If the youth of Belize is to be empowered, then they must be co-creators of policies, the youths must sit at the table.  They must be stakeholders in all decision making. The youths, I say, must be given opportunities.  Young people must be skilled and equipped with the necessary skill to contribute positively to the development of beliefs.”  

Paul Mahung, Punta Gorda Correspondent: “Another speaker, Deputy Director of Department of Youth Services Skills Training, Walton Garbutt, declared Youth Month activities in Punta Gorda open. On stage entertainment was provided by Jose Chun Maya Harp Group of San Marcos, Garifuna Youth Drummers and Singers from PG and Toledo Community College Dance Group. Paul Mahung, Love News, Toledo.”