MINISTER of Social Cohesion with responsibility for Youth, Culture and Sport, Dr George Norton urged youths attending the inaugural Guyana National Youth Conference to utilize the conference to impact their communities.

Norton delivered the feature remarks at the opening ceremony of the two-day conference which began on Wednesday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC).
There he encouraged the youths attending from all 10 administrative regions to have meaningful conversations aimed at highlighting areas in which the Government can improve its assistance given to youths.

“As the Government, we never believe we know it all. We recognize that the most fitting people to address the issues affecting the youth population are the youths themselves. We have embarked on this initiative to provide you–the youths–with the ideal opportunity and forum to have your voices heard,” he stated.

He further encouraged the participants to take their roles seriously and to try their utmost to be vocal in all the discussed topics as policy makers will be taking note of concerns and suggestions raised.

“This is your opportunity. We want to ensure that the most feasible and impactful solutions are implemented to [address] problems affecting Guyana’s young people,” he stated.
The Social Cohesion Minister reminded, too, that through the Department of Youth, some $1.7 B will be spent in 2018 on programmes designed to equip youths with skills for the job market, empowerment and other youth-related issues.

However, he did make known his disappointment that more participation did not come from Regions 1, 7, 8 and 9, but stated: “Things have been done in your best interest and we will continue to invest in the youths of this country because we know, for a fact, that you are the key to Guyana’s increased prosperity and your value can never be overstated.”
Meanwhile, remarks came too from Director of Youth, Melissa Carmichael-Haynes, who assured the youths that the conference would enable the establishment of mechanisms to advance the youth agenda in Guyana.

“At the Department of Youth, we recognized that Guyana’s development depends largely on the development of the country’s youth, regardless of ethnicity, cultural background, age, political preference, sexual orientation and gender identity.

“Guyana’s youths will need to be provided with the relevant opportunities to develop their knowledge and skills if they are to meaningfully contribute to the betterment of themselves, their community and by extension, their country,” she stated.

Carmichael-Haynes also encouraged the youths to hold the department accountable to tabling their recommendations and addressing their concerns as they also work to learn, respect and assist each other during the event.

The two-day conference also saw presentations coming from Liaison Officer of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Adler Bynoe.

Other presentations were expected to come from the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) on ‘The Role of Youth in Democracy and Governance’ and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) applicable to youth development.

Today, presentations will continue from the Guyana Police Force; the Department of Environment; the Department of Energy; Version 75 Solutions and other stakeholders.
Also, during the conference, three youths were presented with scholarships to attend the Cacique Accounting College while 10 others are set to receive scholarships today to attend Global Technology Inc.