Dear Young People,
TODAY the Political Teacher wishes to speak directly to the youth in what is the first part of a conversation I plan to have with you in the coming months. The next three months would be a critical period in Guyana’s political history. Not since the first election under adult suffrage in 1953 has an election generated so much interest. The very future of the country is at stake. If there ever was a time when every single vote counts, now is that time. As Guyana moves into the era of Oil and Gas, the question of who governs takes on added significance. The relationship between the vote and whether the country moves in a progressive direction or not cannot be overstated.

It is obvious where the PPP wants to take Guyana — backwards. It has presented a manifesto of stale and outdated ideas or ideas that have already been put in train by the coalition government. The PPP really has nothing positive to run on because it has spent the last five years plotting to overthrow the government. In the end it failed miserably. Not even the discredited no-confidence vote produced the party’s desired outcome. The youth must decide whether that is what they desire.

While the PPP was busy trying to remove the government by undemocratic means, the Coalition was going about the people’s business. Now, as we get closer to election day and the gains of the government is becoming clearer to the people, the PPP has resorted to what it does best – Race Baiting. But while such tactic may reap short-term benefits for its proponents, in the long run it is most counterproductive. Don’t be fooled by all the talk of reopening the sugar estates and how the coalition has crucified sugar workers — that is all race talk.

There is always a tendency among young people to judge the present as the present. Understandably, we live in an era where history is undervalued. But one can best judge the present against that which came before. Any judgement of the coalition’s short tenure in office must be done against the tremendous challenges it faced when it took office in 2015. Young people must be aware of those challenges.

The coalition took power after twenty-three years of wanton destruction of the very social, political and economic fabric of the society. With the help of the votes of the majority of citizens, it rescued Guyana from the depth of despair and deprivation. Our very status as a civilised community was in danger. Guyana was governed by marauding gangs called Phantom Squads which enforced the death wishes of the political directorate.

The teacher is not asking you to cast your vote for one side based solely on its articulation of the sins of the other side. But you must be aware of those sins. That awareness provides context. You must ultimately judge the coalition based on what it presents to you and what it represents. Young people must first and foremost be aware that the coalition government is itself a radical break with the past. It is a break with one-party government which, in our multi-ethnic society, has meant government by one-race. The coalition government is the first government since 1953 that came to power with the votes of the three major ethnic groups—Indian Guyanese, African Guyanese and Amerindian Guyanese. This is a massive achievement that young people should appreciate.

Our youth have correctly called out the unimaginative politics that prevail. Some have opted out of political participation. Unfortunately, that is not the answer. For every youth who fails to vote, it translates into a vote for those who you protest against. So, whatever your thoughts on politics, young people must vote. The vote was the outcome of centuries of blood and sacrifice. It is one of the most important tools the citizen possesses. In a democratic environment, the vote is a revolutionary tool. But when it is not used it becomes counter revolutionary.

I know some young people are threatening to stay home on Election Day. Such an act would be a betrayal of everything youth stands for. Youth and idealism are often twinned. But remember that idealism is a process, not a single act. Achieving ideals must start somewhere. Gone are the days when young people made revolution via guerrilla warfare. Revolution must now be made differently. It must be made within the framework of what is possible.

What is possible in these upcoming elections? It is possible to put in place an administration which will open doors to a better future. If a better future for the youth means better education, better jobs, better opportunities to accumulate wealth, economic security and equality of opportunity, then you must vote for the slate that best guarantees the possibility of those outcomes. Reflect on this for now.