A two-day National Youth Summit of youth from ten Pacific island countries was officially launched in Nuku'alofa yesterday, March 21.

The Youth Summit, an initiative of the Commonwealth Youth Program (CYP) brought representatives from regional youth organisations to discuss and formalize a strategic development plan of youth activities for the next three years.

Elaine Howard, the Director of the Tonga National Youth Congress and chairlady of the Commonwealth Youth Program Pacific Regional Youth Caucus, said that in a meeting last year by government representatives, and representatives of regional youth organisations it was decided that the strengthening of family ties was a top priority when it was realised that development disrupted the unity of the family.

"So we are here to discuss our plans and activities for the next three years. We are given a little freedom to do the activity we want to do on our own by CYP." Elaine said that the CYP have their own priorities like every other donor agency, ...“but what is great is they let us in the regional youth caucus have our own priorities.

"Strengthening of family ties tops our priority list followed in second place by youth health and well being, entrepreneurship, human rights, economic development and strengthening youth councils in each Pacific island nation like Tonga...’s National Youth Congress."

Elaine said that the strategic development plan for the Pacific Regional Youth Caucus, which should be developed by the end of the two-day national summit, will go forward for approval by the Commonwealth Youth Ministers Meeting of all Commonwealth countries to be held in the Bahamas in May.