GENERAL Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and Vice President of Guyana, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, has praised the nation’s youth for their commitment to shaping a progressive future, following a vibrant interactive session with students of the University of Guyana’s Economics Society.
Speaking during his weekly press conference on Wednesday, Dr. Jagdeo described the forum as a refreshing engagement, noting that the young people in attendance were focused on development and eager to explore their potential role in nation-building.

“We had a really good interaction there and I was really pleased that people are just thinking about the future,” he said, adding that youth were increasingly moving beyond “the nonsense that passes for analysis in so-called social media.”
Highlighting the importance of understanding Guyana’s economic journey, the General Secretary encouraged young people to view progress through a historical lens, emphasising the dramatic transformation the country has undergone in the last two decades.

“You have to check where we were twenty years ago…bankrupt, insolvent, poorer than Haiti,” Dr. Jagdeo recalled. “Today, we’re the most dynamic economy in this region—and in the world.”
He expressed particular satisfaction at the students’ curiosity about lucrative career paths, their interest in national development, and their concern about digital distractions affecting civic engagement among their peers.

“I was really taken back by it,” he admitted, referring to a young participant’s question about how to channel serious messages to youths in a digital age. “That was a really good question. It’s a national project we need to undertake.”
Dr. Jagdeo used the opportunity to urge young people to think critically, avoid being misled by superficial commentary, and take a more structured approach to analysing national issues.

“It is people like you who have to change [this mindset]. Young people like you,” he stated. “That’s why I’m spending time here—talking about analysing things in a bigger framework than what you just hear some man saying on the road…or on TikTok.”
He reaffirmed the administration’s ongoing efforts to listen to and engage youth voices, noting that the PPP/C government’s community outreach is part of a deeper commitment to inclusive governance.

“The outreaches that we do are because the PPP remains connected to the ground. We do it as a matter of principle,” he stressed.

Since taking office in 2020, the PPP/C government has prioritised engagement with citizens across all regions—particularly young people—as part of its wider development strategy.