IN observance of Commonwealth Day 2016, the Guyana Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association will host Youth Parliament 2016 on Monday under the theme: “An Inclusive Commonwealth”.Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland, made this disclosure on Thursday during the 35th Sitting of the National Assembly.

It is expected that some 38 students between the ages of 14 and 17 will participate in this sitting. These students will be drawn from 23 secondary schools from the 10 administrative regions, but children from the New Opportunity Corps and the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre will also be present.

The students from the outlying regions, accompanied by their teachers, will arrive in Georgetown today, and will return to their respective regions on Tuesday.

“During their stay, the students will attend training sessions on Commonwealth leadership, parliamentary etiquette and decorum, the democratic process, and parliament and parliamentary procedures. All of these items will be treated prior to the sitting of the Youth Parliament on Monday, March 14, 2016,” the Speaker explained.

He said Members of Parliament have been asked to mentor the students, thereby helping them to develop their elocution and debating skills, and finalise their speeches.
The Youth Members of Parliament will take up the positions of Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, Ministers of Government, Private Members, Clerk and Deputy Clerk.

It was explained that they will speak to a motion formed around youth cohesion and building inclusive societies in the Commonwealth. The resolve clause states that: “The Youth Parliament calls upon Commonwealth countries to create opportunities for youths to be involved in the decision-making process.”