IT was not the cosplay, though that was quite a sight this weekend, and it wasn’t the vast video gaming room either that made the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph company’s Innovate conference special.

Was it, then, the quality of the workshops? Or perhaps the broad and entertaining advertising effort?
No, it was the looks on the faces of young people as they rushed excitedly to and fro in the Marriott Hotel’s conference facilities. Last weekend there was a palpable charge in the air, an energy that we do not often see on Guyana’s streets. It was good to see young people in their element, exploring possibilities in the technology industry.
This innovate conference was billed as the first of its kind and the largest such event in Guyana thus far, and for the most part the conference lived up to its billing. There was a wide range of workshops on important topics in the technology industry, from finding your niche to large-scale projects in the works.

Guyanese youth need more conferences such as these, perhaps hosted by many companies as well, or in combination with those who have some presence in the technology industry. This is because these conferences not only help build Guyana’s technology industry, they add an element of unbridled hope and enthusiasm each youth deserves to taste — if only for a moment.

Belief in possibilities can only serve our country as young people who are inspired will surely turn their energies to making their dreams a reality, pushing Guyana’s businesses into the future as they do so. This is an essential element to modern business competitiveness, as recent technological innovations have not only led some firms to dominate international markets, but spurred their growth to such a degree, that many of the world’s largest companies are technology-based.

Guyana still trails many analogous countries in supporting the technology industry, but strides are continually being made, such as GTT’s recent fibre-optic push and the efforts of the companies driving the prevalence of local cable television access. Guyanese would do well to note that contrary to popular perception, fast internet access in the United States is behind many countries due to the slow adoption of fibre optics.

Once our infrastructure is built up, the youthful energies that were on display last weekend will certainly make themselves heard across Guyana’s economy. We can, in the meantime, at least look to support these young people through emphasising programmes which encourage their development, recognising the many elements of that growth, from classroom experiences to experimental research.

The local technology industry may still be finding its feet, but it was heartening to see such enthusiasm and positivity at the innovate conference. For at least a few moments, these young people were transported to a world of innovation without end. And isn’t the belief in a world without end what youth is all about?