By Marissa V. Foster

“AS a child growing up, I have always had a burning sensation within me to be a part of politics within my country. The ability to change the way of life for hundreds of thousands across the length and breadth of Guyana inspires me to continue pursuing this dream,” expressed Havendra Sookraj. He is a 24-year-old who hails from the Berbice

Havendra stressed that during his school days, he was an average student with approximately 55 percent on his report card. However, after entering his senior year of High School, he decided to commit to his work seriously. Havendra challenged himself by entering the Business stream and managed to gain recommendations for additional subjects for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC). He wrote 13 subjects and came out successful on all. After high school, he had an opportunity to migrate to further his studies but due to the love that he has for our country and his business commitments, Havendra chose to stay and eventually attended the University of Guyana where he pursued a Degree in Business Economics. In November of this year, he will be graduating with a distinction in this field and plans to pursue a Master’s program in either Economics and Finance or Economics, Petroleum and Finance in England next year.
His father is a long-standing member of the Rotary Club of New Amsterdam, assisted by his mother. Together, they instilled in him and his siblings a passion that serving humanity was and will always be the right thing to do. With inspiration from his parents, he decided to venture into the world of volunteerism. Today, Havendra is proud to call himself a volunteer. In 2008, he joined the Golden Om Dharmic Youth Organisation. Sookraj is also the Public Relations Officer of “Project Hope”, which is an organisation that invests heavily in the less fortunate and the underprivileged. Perhaps, the most exciting journey for him was his tenure as president of GULDA – Guyana’s United League for Development Association- an NGO that was filled with promising young leaders and game-changers who want to make a change for the better in Berbice and ultimately, Guyana. Under his stewardship, the group organised many community projects and one initiative on their agenda was the engagement of our national leaders to change the way that youth representation and youth issues were heard and addressed in this country.

Due to his love for volunteering and devout patriotism, he has grown to embrace his aspiration to one day become the next president of Guyana. Sookraj believes that this is his calling since he wishes to serve the people of his country for no reward intended. Havendra said, “I believe that it is unfair – with the way politics have unfolded over the decades – that the average man cannot have his say in the governance of our country.” He continued by saying, “He is excluded and it is because of this lack of involvement that he loses interest and seeks to migrate elsewhere. I fundamentally believe that for the nature of our politics to evolve, we need to move away from race and party politics and become more focused on issues and policies that are geared to effect meaningful change.” With that in mind, he wishes to connect and impact with and through the people on the ground.

He enjoys a good game of volleyball or cricket in his leisure time, although he prefers to only bat in cricket. He also enjoys debating and impromptu speeches – this is by far his favourite. He greatly appreciates the use of language to accomplish a particular cause or purpose. Havendra believes words, once articulated correctly; have the potential to influence tremendously on all aspects of our daily lives. It can change the course of a war, alter treaties and mend broken relations. Havendra also has a great love for animals, especially dogs. He hopes to one day open an animal shelter, if possible; shelters for those animals without a home in our country.

Havendra aspires to form a youth movement and alliance that will comprise of young and middle-aged persons from all walks of life and all the different regions across our country. Together, they will articulate meaningful policies and solutions that are geared towards addressing the real needs of our people. They will harness the skills, expertise and competencies to validate claims and pave a new, professional and diplomatic route for advocacy and inclusive representation. He admits that he has travelled to many parts of this country and seeing his dream shot down by older folks who kept on insisting that “things will never change” and “politics will always be this way” as they encouraged him not to pursue this career option. Time and time again, he reflects on these sentiments and tries to convince himself that maybe politics is not his calling but somehow, he would always gravitate right back to where he left off.

For about one year, this future politician stopped reading the news. He got upset every time he read about the tragedies unfolding and decided to restrain himself with a more conservative approach to politics. Until of course, he received an invitation to apply for Youth Parliament 2019. His life was never the same, since. Youth Parliament 2019 was a phenomenal experience for him and it revitalised every fibre within him that insisted, politics was always his calling. As he stood within the capacity as Shadow Minister of Business to give his address, he envisaged doing this for the rest of his life. Sookraj stressed that the outpour he received after his delivery was tremendous. He felt purpose, passion, completed and at home. He knew right there and then that regardless of circumstances and whatever other negativity he may face en route to accomplishing that specific goal, that it will all be worth it in the end!

Havendra advises youth aspiring politicians reading this, by saying, “Never be discouraged from doing something that you love because of what others have to say about it. Once you genuinely found your calling, then you should pursue it with all of our might! Always remember that living for others is not what you should be living for. Live for yourself and live a life that you can and will be proud of. Then and only then, can you truly say that you have lived!”