THE DEMOCRACY FORUM
17 October 2009
Citizenship in Democracy – Our Rights and Responsibility
Former Bar Association President, E. Ann Henry (Barrister-a-Law); Queens Counsel and Electoral Commission Chair, Gerald Watt; Assistant Commissioner –Girl Guides Association, Valerie Potter; and Young Ambassadors, Dacia Jarvis and Danielle McCoy; were selected by Girl Guides Association’s Training Committee to initiate discussions at The Democracy Forum held on Saturday 17 October 2009 at the Girl Guides headquarters. 
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Chaired by Vice President-Girl Guides Association, Jennifer Maynard, the Democracy Forum’s focus was to create a better understanding amongst all persons of voting age or approaching voting age (in a small group setting) of the process and meaning of democracy, voting, and our rights & responsibilities as citizens.
Valerie Potter opened the discussion with a comprehensive 
overview of the democratic process which exists within the structure of the Girl Guides movement and its (learning-by-doing) age-specific programmes. This in effect explained what the Girl Guides Association is meant to achieve through its programmes. Dacia and Danielle then confirmed that the Association does, in fact, achieve its goals in exposing each member at all ages to the applicable practice of democracy, 
through their personal experiences. With a video presentation, the Young Ambassadors were also able to present the views of their peers on democracy.
overview of the democratic process which exists within the structure of the Girl Guides movement and its (learning-by-doing) age-specific programmes. This in effect explained what the Girl Guides Association is meant to achieve through its programmes. Dacia and Danielle then confirmed that the Association does, in fact, achieve its goals in exposing each member at all ages to the applicable practice of democracy, through their personal experiences. With a video presentation, the Young Ambassadors were also able to present the views of their peers on democracy.
E. Ann Henry described citizenship as a ‘belonging’ and credited the Girl Guides Association for its initiative of hosting such a discussion and with linking the organizations structure of democracy with the national concept of democracy as, in her word, “Democracy involves that constant interaction between those who may be leading and those led”.
Gerald Watt described the voting process in great detail especially as it concerns youth. He spoke directly to the young people in the audience (members and non-members) about their rights and responsibilities indicating that the democratic process in Antigua/Barbuda is young and maturing and that the process of maturing is dependent on their well-informed, educated, committed and consistent involvement in the process. As a means of encouragement, Gerald Watt, shared the successful initiative to increase the number of voters under the age of 35 years in the elections held this year and thanked the young men and women in attendance.
Following a question & answer session, Jennifer Maynard charged the full-house of participants with the responsibility of causing the ripple effect by having the ‘Democracy’ discussion in small groups in their wider communities and interactions.
