At 25 years old, Nikoli Edwards has achieved a lot. Last week Wednesday, Edwards was appointed a temporary independent senator and by Tuesday night he was among 23 senators who voted for amendments to The Miscellaneous Provisions (Marriage) Bill 2016 aimed at ending child marriages in this country. Edwards’ appointment to the Upper House was a natural progression in his advocacy for the youth as he was once a member of the guild of the University of the West Indies’ St Augustine campus and is currently a vice chairman of the Commonwealth Youth Council. This week, the Sunday Guardian sits down with Edwards for a Q&A.
Q: You were appointed as an independent senator earlier this month and created history by being the youngest person to ever sit in the Upper House. How does that feel?
A : It is a feeling that really is indescribable. What gives me the credence for that is the fact that I am representing people and I am feeling good that I can take my representation to that level. And based on the responses of these people they too now feel as though they have a voice, especially the youth of T&T. So to know that more than anything I am providing that voice that is what gives me the feeling of exuberance.
You were able to vote on a very crucial piece of legislation this week when the The Miscellaneous Provisions (Marriage) Bill was debated in the Senate, being an advocate for youth, how did that impact you?
I definitely had to take a moment of quiet and understand the magnitude of what I was embarking upon and to know that I have moved from being a grassroots advocate to actually influencing legislation that is a feeling of empowerment, so I did not take it for granted whatsoever and I understood the awesome responsibility that was placed on my shoulders and I respected the process. I have a new appreciation for the process but it really allowed me to understand how hard work can actually pay off by assuming a position where you can do more than simply advocate on the ground.
In the vote for the amendment to The Miscellaneous Provisions (Marriage) Bill, the Government and the majority of the independent senators voted for the amendment while the Opposition and one of the independent senators decided to abstain—what was your thought when the five senators decided to abstain?
For me that was a very disappointing moment because I had the expectation that once you are placed in such an important position it is either you are for or you are against. To know that you have occupied a position in that chamber and simply abstained it is sending a clear message to individuals, those especially who look up to you, that you are not able to effectively and efficiently carry out your function, so it was a feeling of disappointment considering as well the importance of this piece of legislation and the fact that this was a history-making moment and some people decided to be on the wrong side of history.
What are your thoughts on party politics in this country? Do you think we need to get a level of maturity where politicians put party allegiance aside and work towards the best interest of the country?
Yes, if party politics was not at play we would have been so much further as a country than we are right now. But because people tend to look at party before country that is what is carrying this country to hell in a hand basket. So if individuals understand their responsibility and understand who they are there to serve and represent before any allegiance to party politics, if that is understood, then I do think T&T would be on the path to progress.
We have seen your ascension from a member of the executive of the guild at UWI, St Augustine, to being a vice chairman at the Commonwealth Youth Council to now being appointed a temporary senator, how has that been and what do you hope to be the final step in your progression?
The process has definitely been testament to the fact that hard work pays off and I want young people across T&T to understand that more than anything. That I did not get these positions by chance but because I was dedicated to the process and to the work involved. From this point, I would want to continue to advocate on the ground. I would use my position as often as it is afforded to me in the Senate to add to the debate on legislation that would improve the lives of citizens, and I do hope one day that I become prime minister of this country because that is an aspiration of mine. It is not a cliche for me to want to be the prime minister one day but rather it is something that I am willing to roll up my sleeves, get down and dirty and work toward. So that is the eventual step.
One of the major things that happened in your life in recent time was the passing of your father, Hassan Atwell, following the 2015 jail break. One of the issues you raised then was the posting of dead bodies on social media because a photo of your father’s body was posted online. What are your thoughts on that issue?
Having been on the receiving end on the negativity that is associated with seeing a loved one’s body strewn across social media that definitely awoke within me the need to advocate for people to not share these images because of the traumatic effect that there is. I know for one that my youngest brother would have been affected by seeing our father’s body on social media and so I issued a call to media outlets not to show these images. And it is something that I practice in my everyday life. I would never share the dead body of an individual on social media because it is in poor taste and also the effects that it has. There is no need, we are not a society that needs to see images of bodies to understand that somebody has passed away. Gone are the days of that. Let us be mature as a society and carry news and information in a respectful way.
What do you think is the most pressing issue affecting the youth in T&T?
I would go to the Global Youth Development Index that was launched last October and T&T ranks within the top ten for the worst performing countries when it comes to employment and opportunities for young people. So I would say that employment and opportunities for young people is the most pressing issue, and when it comes to opportunities not only for self-development but also opportunities to partake in nation development.
So unfortunately my appointment to the Senate is a rare one and I do think that more young people should be given such opportunities because young people will inherit this country, the institutions and the systems of governance, and if we begin to prepare young people for that position and undertaking from now we would be in good stead.