 Leaders of Commonwealth countries have declared 2023 the year of the youth. This declaration was made at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Kigali Rwanda in June 2022. The Commonwealth's 56 member countries have a combined population of 2.5 billion people of which 60% are under 40 years of age. 2023 will be dedicated to highlighting youth-related issues like climate change, access to education, skills, employment, political, social and economic participation. The Ministry of Youth Development and Sports will take the lead in St Lucia, bringing those issues center stage. We at the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports have taken the decision that our theme for this year will emanate from one of the pillars of our national youth policy and its states, to empower young people and communities as agents of peaceful and safe national coexistence. In so doing, we intend to collaborate with many stakeholders, the NYC, the District Youth and Sports Councils, the Community Relations Branch, Social Transmission and of course the hard-working officers here at the Ministry along with our youth workers. A number of activities will be planned for communities in St Lucia, including peace camps in partnership with Development Alternatives Inc, DIA and the National Youth Council NYC funded by the United States Agency for International Development USAID, an inter-district debating competition on solutions to crime, psychosocial access for grieving youth, workshops on meditation, conflict management and resolution. These initiatives are intended to provide young persons with the knowledge, skills and practice that will prevent and reduce crime within the communities. Marvin St. Louis reporting from the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports.