By Naomi Marshall

THE first sitting of the fifth annual Youth Parliament commenced on Wednesday at the Parliament Chamber, Public buildings, with the motto, “Our generation, our voice: inspire, encourage, impact.”

The event saw secondary school students from the 10 Administrative Regions of Guyana assume the seats of the National Assembly, as they spiritedly debated four topics of nationwide importance.

The four motions debated by the youths between the ages 14-17 were the ban on single-use plastics, modernisation of the Copyright law and intellectual property legislation, discipline in schools and enhancing efforts to curbing substance abuse in schools.
Calling the first sitting of the fifth Annual Youth Parliament to order was Hon. Kellisha Peters, Speaker of the first sitting of the Youth Parliament.
Moving the first motion, “Ban on single-use plastics,” was Hon. Rashawn Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, who lead the government’s consensus effort to support the aim of the United Nations to achieve sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources through the improvisation of a ban on single-use plastics.

Wilkinson proposed that although the government sees the step as a drastic one, it is a meaningful step towards the “significant improvement in the life of all Guyanese.”
“Much as we cannot seem to avoid the use of plastics, we also cannot avoid its harmful effects, hence, I do not stand to propose the banning of all plastics, rather, an argument against the continued production, importation and use of single-use plastics,” he stated.
The minister highlighted that Guyana became a signatory of the United Nations Sustainable Goal on September 25, 2015 which states under the 12th goal that sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources must be achieved by 2030.
According to Wilkinson, in order to ensure an efficient completion of the goal, the ban on single-use plastics is indeed a necessary one.

He pointed out that the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal agreement, goal 12 states that by 2020 all countries must achieve the environmentally-sound management of chemicals.

He noted, “A heated plastic releases toxic chemicals,” as such, the completion of goal 12 will be hindered.
Opposing the motion was Honorable Akesiha Halley, Shadow Minister of Natural Resources, who stated that Guyana’s overall consumption of single-use plastics is not drastic when compared to other nations.

She stated that even though countries such as China and Indonesia have high rates of single-use plastics consumption, they did not ban the use of plastic but rather put other measures in place.

“If these countries aren’t affected by plastic consumption, why should we? Yes, I know prevention is better than cure but banning single-use plastics isn’t prevention but rather cure for something that isn’t endangering our wellbeing at the moment,” she said.
Charlie Adhar, was the Prime Minister for the first sitting of the fifth Annual National Youth Parliament. He led his government to triumph in the tabling of two motions in the National Assembly.
The government’s first motion tabled by Honorable Rashawn Wilkinson – the banning of single-use plastics and the second being the implementation of effort to curb substance abuse in schools.

Prime Minister, Charlie Adhar was awarded the title of ‘Best Debater’ while Opposition Leader, Breanna Ramnarain, was awarded ‘Best Speaker’.
Meanwhile, Breanna Ramnarain, as the opposition leader, tabled motions for a more collective approach to be taken when dealing with discipline in schools, and for amendments to be made to Guyana’s copyright laws.

Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry in her remarks, stated that the Youth Parliament is a good opportunity for young people to get exposure and a better understanding of the practices of the National Assembly.

Henry also said that the annual event also gives young people a platform to let their opinions be heard on matters that are relevant to the country and the youth population.
“A lot of time you get a lot of good ideas being birthed out the youth parliament and I think it’s a really good initiative and one that I endorse and that I have been associated with for the past three years and I look forward to more engagement at this level,” the minister noted.

The students were brought to Georgetown, the Capital City, five days prior to the first sitting of the annual event where they benefitted from the guidance and training of youth mentors, who aided in assisting them in doing research on the fours motions which were debated.

The youths were also exposed to various workshops on parliamentary etiquette and decorum as well as an advisory session with the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland.

Additionally, they have had one-on-one sessions with past parliamentarians such as Attorney-at –law, James Bond, and Director of Sports, Christopher Jones, who helped to train them in debating and argumentative techniques.
The youths also benefitted from a session with the Cacique Toast Masters Club on the art of public speaking.

Today, students of the University of Guyana will be given the opportunity to participate in the second sitting of the fifth annual Youth Parliament and will be debating the use of sovereign wealth fund, migration policy, youth participation in governance, and amendment of Article 155 1 (A) of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.