BEST debater of the inaugural Speaker’s National Youth Debating Competition 2021, Guyana Chronicle Journalist, Richard Bhainie and outstanding debater from Region Three, Malika Russell, were, on Tuesday, elected by their peers to lead their respective sides of the House, in anticipation of Youth Parliament 2021.

Bhainie was elected to perform the functions of Leader of the Opposition while Russell was elected to perform the role of the Prime Minister for the Government side of the house.

The youths will lead their side of the House, which comprises of members who were randomly selected for either side. Persons who progressed through the Speaker’s National Youth Debate Competition 2021 were selected for the senior category.

The senior category will also have persons from the Government Technical Institute (GTI), the Linden Technical Institute (LTI), the New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI), the Guyana Industrial Training Centre (GITC), the University of Guyana (UG) and Nations Incorporated.

“This year’s debates will be centred on eight areas which were chosen with the hope of stimulating thinking among the participants, enriching their knowledge and generating robust discussions,” a letter to the participants from Parliament Office stated.

Participants of the junior category will debate topics pertaining to cyber bullying; traditional school vs virtual school; and more funds to be allotted to sports and the continued training of athletes.

The topics for scrutiny by the senior category relate to COVID-19 and mental health; climate change and Guyana’s tourism industry; benefits of migration to the economy; oil and gas; and flooding in Guyana. The two sides will also be able to move one motion on a topic of their own interest, respectively.

The sixth annual Youth Parliament will commence virtually on August 12, 2021 and conclude on August 18, 2021. The initiative will be executed through a hybrid setting, featuring both virtual and in-person participation.

On Wednesday, the Organising Committee at the Parliament Office hosted a virtual Preliminary Session on Drafting Motions for the Senior Category which was conducted by Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira.

Also in attendance was Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir, and the Chairperson for the programme was Parliamentary Executive Officer and Coordinator of Youth Parliament, Carlleta Charles.

“The participants were made privy to the knowledge of the types of motions and how to construct them. Minister Teixeira explained the sections of a motion, the Whereas Clauses and Resolved Clauses, and encouraged the youth MPs to think about the aim of their motions when preparing them and to make them relevant to our country,” a press release from Parliament Office said.

Both the virtual and in-person sittings of Youth Parliament 2021 will be live-streamed on Parliament’s website, Facebook page and YouTube channel. Additionally, all media houses will be provided with the link to broadcast the debates.