PUBLIC Service Minister, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley challenged Afro-Guyanese youths to be supportive of each other and participate in networking to develop their communities in academic, business and skill endeavors of their choices.

The minister was at the time giving remarks at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on Saturday when the International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly held its youth conference under the theme, “African Youth in Guyana’s New Economy : Opportunities for success”.

She encouraged the youths to break away from negative stereotypes while determining the future based on the present action taken by Afro-Guyanese youths.

“This conference looks at business, innovation, entrepreneurship, training for the future, which suggests that, as a people, why it is we have to take into consideration, it is because if we don’t know our history, we already know the rest of that phrase,” Minister Sarabo-Halley told the gathering.

The minister told the youths that they must focus on being meaningful members of society to ensure that many dreams are realised and not just sit back and hope things happen.

“It is important that participants utilise what they will learn and go back to their communities and empower others who were unable to attend the event,” the minister said.

The public service minister called on the gathering to set goals and visions for themselves and aim to attain the relevant education to pursue that vision.

She noted that the APNU/AFC government is committed to investing in education and necessary training for youths to reach their fullest potential.

“As minister of public service, I can say that training is available, resources for you to be trained in areas being presented is available, I would like for us not to take it for granted and look out for the advertisements in the newspapers and on the Public Service website,” the minister underscored.

The minister told the youths that every action they take will produce certain results in their future and it will decide their fate and success.

“We do not have to wait until we get into high office to make an impact, every decision that you make now, impacts somebody else’s lives, positively and negatively, and that affects the entire society in one way or the other,” the public service minister told the gathering.

ACTION
She told the youths that their uniqueness should be seen as a gift and their purpose in life can only be achieved through action.

“As individuals we are important, but what we also need to learn is that only collectively we can make an impact, so you bring what you have to the table and as each one of us brings our best to the table, we make Guyana a better place for all of us and that is something we need to recognise,” she emphasised.

Public Telecommunications Minister, Cathy Hughes told the gathering that history is a very important factor in understanding where individuals end up in their future.

Displaying the writings on her jersey stating “History has its eyes on you”, the minister told the youths that “we came here with our ancestor’s blood in the oceans and, today, look at us now, because of their sweat, because of their pain, because of their vision, because of their sacrifice, all of us can sit here comfortably in an air-conditioned room to talk about where we want to go.”

Minister Hughes said the current generation has a responsibility since “to whom much is given, much is expected,” and youths should participate in all aspects of development.

Organised by the Youth Committee, the aforementioned conference seeks to further empower Afro-Guyanese youths, not only with the knowledge of their powerful history, but also to inform them about the fast-changing Guyanese economy and the many opportunities being offered to them.

Organisers said the conference will allow participants to learn more about and explore education, career and business opportunities that will be available to them in the plan for the Decade of Development, crafted by the current administration. Participants are expected to meet with leaders in the new oil and gas sector and learn more about its wide-ranging ripple effects, this is said to foster encouragement for them to capitalise on opportunities given.

Youth entrepreneurs participating in this conference will also be allowed to display their merchandise or products during the event’s proceedings.

Public Relations Officer, Stephon Gabriel, noted that it is expected that after the conference, young Afro-Guyanese will further extend their knowledge about their roles in Guyana’s democracy.