US Ambassador to Guyana, Brent Hardt, met with Trevor Williams, a Member of the National Assembly, who recently travelled to the United States to participate in an International Visitor Leadership (IVLP) exchange programme on the U.S. elections: A Project for Young Political Leaders.
The programme, which will run from October 29 to November 16, 2012 will bring participants to key electoral battleground states such as Ohio, Michigan, North Carolina and Florida. After the election, participants will regroup and travel to politically contrasting parts of the U.S. — Texas, California, and New York — for post-election analysis and a chance to hear diverse perspectives on the electoral outcomes and processes.
Ambassador Hardt observed that the IVLP offers a unique way to experience U.S. elections, and said Mr. William’s visit comes at an exciting moment in U.S. history. The Ambassador encouraged Mr. Williams to explore all facets of the U.S. system of elections. The two spoke about the challenges and opportunities that are generated when a country has a parliament or congress controlled by a party or parties different from the executive branch. They also shared thoughts about ways to enhance the public’s knowledge of, and participation in, political processes. Mr. Williams assured the Ambassador that he will take advantage of the programme to learn more about the role of youth, the private sector, civil society and the media, in shaping the outcome of the political process.
The State Department’s Multi-Regional Programme, U.S. Elections: A Project for Young Political Leaders, will provide opportunities for over 30 participants from around the globe to examine the U.S. political and electoral process, political activism and campaigns, with emphasis on the priorities and role of the younger generation in the current political landscape. During the programme, participants will also explore the influence of media, non-governmental organizations, and other interest groups on political campaigns, elections, and the political process in the United States.
As young political leaders, Mr. Williams and his peers will be afforded a unique opportunity to examine how civic and political engagement is fostered in the United States, the importance of transparency in politics, and the relationship between political leaders and the public.
On his return to Guyana, Mr. Williams hopes to work with all stakeholders to advance local practices for campaigning and organizing by political parties. Trevor Williams is a corporate sales executive with Digicel Guyana and serves as a Member of Parliament representing the country’s Administrative Regions of 7 and 10, under the Alliance for Change.
The IVLP is the flagship professional exchange programme of the Department of State, which annually brings to the United States approximately 5,000 foreign nationals from all over the world to meet and confer with their professional counterparts and to experience America firsthand. The visitors are current or potential leaders in government, politics, the media, education, the arts, business and other fields.
Among the thousands of distinguished individuals who have participated in the IVLP since its inception almost seven decades ago, are more than 290 current and former Chiefs of State and Heads of Government, 2,000 cabinet-level ministers, and many, many other distinguished leaders from the public and private sectors. Over 100 Guyanese nationals have participated in a range of IVLPs over the years.
