THE People’s Progressive Party (PPP)’s prized youth arm, the Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO), on Wednesday celebrated their 62nd Anniversary at the Red House. 

The PYO’s motto is: “Unity, Liberation and Social Justice”; the purpose of the PYO is exactly what its motto states: members of the PYO to work assiduously to support the Government in upholding Unity, Liberation and Social Justice around the country.

Present at the ceremony on Wednesday were: PPP General Secretary, Mr Clement Rohee; General Secretary of the Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO), Ms. Sheila Veerasammy; and other members and officials of the PYO and WPO.

The ceremony was highlighted by a few cultural dance items from members of the Enmore Youth group and also Annandale’s PYO members.
According to Chairperson of the ceremony and also a member of the PYO, Anna Gouveia, the PYO faced a very hard time in the past. Before the year 1992, the PYO had been oppressed by the colonialists and shortly after by the PNC.
But after 1992, when the PPP came into Government, there has been significant progress, because the PYO are no longer oppressed and they can now assist the Government tremendously in the right ways.
Gouveia further stated that the PYO now also assists in the development of sports, the environment, etc… and as time goes by under the guidance and support of the PPP, they could assist more in the development of Guyana.
Sheila Veerasammy in her address, stated: “It’s an honour to be able to take part in the PYO’s 62nd Anniversary celebrations.
“After going through a revolutionary struggle, the PYO still stands strong today, to be able to celebrate its milestone of 62 years of existence.”
She further stated that the PYO needs to thank the great Cheddi Jagan and Janet Jagan for bringing the PYO into existence in the year 1952.
Ms. Veerasammy added that eight months after the PYO was formed when the PPP won the elections with the majority of votes and gained 18 out of 24 seats in the legislative assembly, they saw the need to launch the WPO, and thereafter the WPO was formed giving women a better opportunity to develop their political skills.
During the golden days which were the late 1970s-1990s, when there were a large number of illiterate people, the PYO used to assist in training persons; such training at that time was called “bottom house training.”
The PYO also trains and teaches persons to develop their political knowledge, and also to take up leadership in the future.
She also informed the young members of the PYO that various respected ministers of Guyana were once members of the PYO, some of whom included, Minister of Housing and Water, Irfaan Ali; General Secretary Clement Rohee, and many

others.
Concluding, Sheila emphasised the amount of good work the PPP has done to develop Guyana, and make it what it is today.
According to the GS, Clement Rohee, the PYO shows that it is full of talent, not only in dancing but in many other ways, and this is so because the PYO is made up of youths, and as long as there is young talent, there will always be progress.
Rohee further stated that the PYO has come a far way during the last 62 years; he noted that the PYO “moved from an organisation of the opposition, to an organisation of the Government.”
The PYO has served under the Government for 22 years and he stated when the PPP wins the next election, another five years will be added to that 22, making it 27 years under the PPP.
Rohee added that in order to work towards development, there will be need for hard work, and also on the way to development there will be challenges, but they have to unite and overcome those challenges in order to make development possible.
The PPP, PYO and WPO will continue to move towards progress, and they will fight against backwardness in order to make Guyana a better place.