IN A campaign that focused heavily on youth, the new A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) administration is yet to deliver on its promises of youth involvement.“Where are the youths?” questioned leader of the former People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) administration, Mr Donald Ramotar. The one-liner was emphatic, although it was voiced as an aside during a press conference held at Freedom House last Friday.
Notably, APNU+AFC hosted a youth rally as part of the 2015 elections campaign, where the coalition, via its youth leaders Malika Ramsey, Reynard Ward and Jevaughn Stephens, had made a number of sweeping promises to those present with the hope of winning their support at the May 11 elections.
Ramsey, who addressed the rally held at the corners of Main Street and Cooper’s Lane, New Amsterdam told the crowd that youths will play an important role at all levels of the government, and within the decision-making forums of the country, should the APNU+AFC come to power.
“We need a government to provide an enabling environment where young people do not only sit in call centres,” APNU’s James Bond, an attorney-at-law, had said.
However, to date there has been no appointment of any young professional to any senior government administrative post, although only one APNU member, Christopher Jones, is reportedly being considered for the post of Director of Youth within the Ministry of Communities, headed by the subject minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine.
DEFENCE
Meanwhile, the new Head of State, Brigadier (rtd) David Granger in a comment publicised by a local media entity Friday, had defended the decisions he made relative to the issue.
According to him, his administration reflects an important balance of “experience” which he said is needed.
The Head of State said, “You would have noticed there’s a significant number of junior ministers, who will be under-studying them; so what you see now will not be what will exist in a few years from now.
“We regard this Cabinet as a field not only to ensure that the government’s work is done better, but to also provide an apprenticeship for younger and other ministers; that is why almost every ministry has a junior minister.”