THE Guyana National Youth Council (GNYC) and the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) have committed to working in close consultation and collaboration to produce a number of strategic communication messages for dissemination countrywide. This is in the interest of increasing the voter turnout of Guyana’s youths on Elections Day.This decision was agreed upon last Thursday, when the GNYC met with GECOM to outline some of the Council’s plans for helping GECOM with its comprehensive civic and voter education programme associated with the upcoming general and regional elections.

A GECOM press release declares that that elections body recognizes the perturbing global trends relative to youth participation in electoral processes, and intends to get involved with the GNYC in meaningful ways so as to ensure that, as part of its Civic and Voter Education campaign, the unique communication needs of the Guyanese youth are catered for.

GECOM is committed to helping the GNYC in any way it can to assist young people to make a conscious effort to vote on Elections Day, and also to highlight the very real consequences that non-participation in the electoral process can have on their lives.

The GNYC has outlined a plan that pertains to a robust public awareness campaign that is expected to capture the attention of youths in positive ways. The plan is to encourage them to get out and vote in the upcoming elections of May 11. Together with GECOM, the GNYC will be ensuring that the youths of Guyana understand that voting impacts their future and that of the next generation in significant ways.

Representing GECOM at its meeting with the GNYC were its Chairman, Dr. Steve Surujbally; Deputy Chief Election Officer, Mr. Vishnu Persaud; Legal Officer, Ms. Juanita Barker; and Public Relations Officer, Mr. Richard Francois.

Ms. Tiffany Daniels, Chair of the GNYC; together with Mr. Glen Bradbury, Chief of Party (USAID/IRI LEAD Project), and Ms. Julie Sookram, representative of IRI LEAD Project, represented the GNYC at the meeting with GECOM.