By Dr. Ana Teresa Romero, Director, ILO's Subregional Office for the Caribbean, (Trinidad and Tobago)

A "milestone anniversary" is a time for reflection. For the Barbados Youth Business Trust (BYBT), which is celebrating a decade of existence, it is a time to reflect on the original objectives of the Organization, its achievements, and its future goals in rapidly changing domestic and regional contexts.

The BYBT is well placed to make a significant contribution to achieving one of the key commitments of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) - namely, to develop and implement strategies for decent and productive work for youth.

Enterprise development is a critical route to creating jobs for youth. The BYBT, through its programmes, is enhancing opportunities for young persons to participate more meaningfully in the economy and society. Its policy advice, advocacy, strategic partnerships, capacity building and various forms of support, are helping to foster a culture of entrepreneurship. Budding entrepreneurs are being encouraged to translate their creative ideas and skills into profitable, productive activities. These enterprises have the potential not only to generate opportunities for self-employment, but also to create paid employment for others.

At the Tripartite Caribbean Employment Forum, held in Barbados (10-12 October 2006), a ‘Tripartite Declaration and Plan of Action for Realizing the Decent Work Agenda in the Caribbean' was adopted. Apart from reaffirming the MDG-related objective on youth employment and recognizing the United Nation's Secretary-General's Youth Employment Network initiative, delegates undertook to develop policies and programmes to "enhance employability, equal opportunity, entrepreneurship and employment creation for youth".

There is no doubt that the Barbados Youth Business Trust has an important contribution to make to these efforts, in the spirit of partnership which underpins the YEN, MDG-8 which aims to "Develop a global partnership for development", and the goal of Decent Work for All.

The ILO looks forward to working closely with its tripartite constituents in Barbados and recognized non-governmental organizations such as the BYBT, in efforts to make decent work part and parcel of national economic and social development goals in the Caribbean.

Happy anniversary, BYBT ... and may you grow stronger in the decades ahead!

Best wishes,

Ana Teresa Romero, Ph.D.