News

The Ministry of Youth, Sports & Heritage (MYSH) and the Youth Services Unit (YSU) are proud to announce the appointment of the Cayman Islands’ newest Male CARICOM Youth Ambassadors (CYAs) 2024-2026, D’Vonte Joseph (Male CYA) and Diarra Hoyte (Alternate Male CYA).

Male CYA D’Vonte Joseph holds a Bachelor’s degree (Honours) in Chemical and Energy Engineering from the University of Leeds. A former Water Authority Scholarship recipient, D’Vonte has been engaged in volunteer work with the Cayman Islands Red Cross, Humane Society, the Pines, Health Services Authority (HSA) and other charitable organisations. 

Alternate Male CYA Diarra Hoyte, a former Proud of Them honouree, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Florida Institute of Technology, where he served as President of the Caribbean Student Association. In that role, he demonstrated a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, bringing together students from over 20 universities and various backgrounds with a shared interest in promoting camaraderie, volunteerism, and strong youth networks.

D’Vonte and Diarra have been selected to join the national CYA cohort, which currently includes Ms. Vanessa Burke (CYA Dean) and Ms. Destiny Dalley (Alternate Female CYA) as the female representatives.

The role of a CYA is to advocate for and educate their peers on local and regional youth priorities identified by both the Ministry of Youth, Sports & Heritage and the CARICOM Secretariat. The CYA programme comprises of a network of youth ambassadors from a variety of Caribbean nations. The goal of the programme is to develop its participants to be strong leaders as they advocate for youth concerns on national and international stages.

Head of the Youth Services Unit (YSU), Mrs. Mellony Bryan-Waugh shared: “At the Unit we have been revamping our national facilitation of the CYA programme by enhancing the structure so that our ambassadors can make a regional impact, while also maintaining their priorities for local outreach. This way, they maintain a strong connection to our islands’ youth and are counted on to be a voice for them both at home and abroad.”

Minister for Youth, Hon. Isaac Rankine said: “The Cayman Islands is already making significant strides in the regional youth development landscape. I am confident that D’Vonte and Diarra will be key contributors. These young men are both civically engaged and want to ensure other youth feel confident that they can share their concerns about the future of our islands. Even more importantly, they can help to highlight the importance of youth having a platform to problem-solve, network and advocate. They have my full support as they join their female counterparts in promoting the high-level of youth participation we want to drive among young Caymanians.”

In taking over the mantle as the male ambassadors of the Cayman Islands’ CYAP, both D’Vonte and Diarra will be tasked with fulfilling project and advocacy work until the end of their term in 2026. Those young Caymanians (aged 18-25 years old) who are interested in the programme and its activities, or getting in touch with the local CYAP cohort; are welcome to contact the Youth Services Unit for more information at info.ysu@gov.ky or 943-1127.