THE Parliament Office of Guyana must be commended for putting in place the necessary arrangements for the holding of yet another Youth Parliament which was held last August 6-12 under the theme, “Our Generation, Our Voice to Inspire, Encourage Impact.” This was the eighth sitting of Youth Parliament which gave effect to a United Nations declaration to empower young people and provide an opportunity for them to have a voice in the decision-making process.

This theme was particularly relevant at this critical juncture in our country’s history when the challenges to development are extraordinarily high. It is no exaggeration to say that this current generation are much more endowed in terms of opportunities to grow and develop to the full limit of their potential and also to be the main beneficiaries of the unprecedented developmental ‘tsunami’ currently underway. As such, they have to be provided with a framework for their voices to be heard and also to influence the course and parameters of such developments.
Over 40 students from secondary schools across the country took part in the activities which included training and conducting tours around the city. The students had the opportunity to meet and interact with the Speaker of the National Assembly, current Members of Parliament, and staff of the Parliament Office.

This is indeed a laudable initiative which will go a far way in terms of empowering our young people to take up leadership roles. The future belongs to the young people and it is therefore important that they have a voice and a role in the shaping and determination of that future.

Guyana has a relatively young population. More than half of the country’s population are young people, many of whom are already playing key roles in the country’s development. In fact, Guyana has the unique distinction of having a youthful President in the person of Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali who is currently the youngest Head of State in the Caribbean. Former President and now Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo was also the youngest Head of State when he became President of Guyana.

They both continue to steer the Ship of State in their respective roles as President and Vice-President respectively. It will be recalled that Dr. Cheddi Jagan was still in his late twenties when he was elected to the Legislative Council in 1947.

It is an established fact that young people have higher energy levels and are generally more innovative and creative. They are more open to new ideas and out of the-box thinking. This is why they are a valuable and resourceful asset in the national development processes.

It is precisely for this reason that the current PPP/C administration has been paying so much attention on youth development. President Ali in August 2022 launched the President’s Youth Advisory Council during which he urged young people to become critically integrated into the policy-making and policy implementation of the country.
According to President Ali, it is important for our youths to have a thorough understanding on how policies are determined, why they are determined and to become a part of the finalization and implementation processes.

This is how it should be and full credit must be given to President Ali and Vice-President Dr. Jagdeo not only for recognizing the value of youths for national development but also for putting in place the mechanisms for young people to realise their full potential. Indeed, there has never been a better time for young people to take up leadership roles. Guyana is now in the cusp of monumental and exciting changes and our young people will have to play a lead role in driving the change dynamic.

This Youth Parliament is an important mechanism to prepare our youths to take up leadership roles, especially from a governance perspective. History has taught us that our young people have never been shy or found wanting when it comes to confronting the challenges of the times. Indeed, we owe as a society a debt of gratitude to our young people who rose to the challenges of governance in the past and also to those who currently occupy leadership positions at the various levels.