Youth empowerment and inclusion took center stage on Sunday (July 13, 2025) as the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) launched its 2025 re-election campaign in Georgetown, spotlighting a wave of young and first-time candidates under the theme ‘Forward Together for a Better Guyana’.

At the high-energy rally, new voices from across the country addressed the crowd, calling on voters to back a vision of progress that includes young Guyanese from all walks of life.

“There has never been a better time to be young and Indigenous in Guyana… the Guyana we know today did not happen by accident,” said Sarah Browne of the Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO). Browne praised the administration’s policies on housing, education, and opportunity. “Five years have come and gone in the blink of an eye and the People’s Progressive Party/Civic has taken Guyana by storm… many of us are now the first in our families to go to the University of Guyana, to own our own homes, to lift our families out of poverty… the PPP/C has been tested and proven,” she declared.

Vanda Pio, a 20-year-old candidate from Region 8, urged voters to support the governing party. “Support the Party, like me, to ensure continued opportunities for youth across the country,” she said.

Roger Rogers, an economist and former University of Guyana lecturer, credited the party’s sustained investment in young people. “The youth is the future of this country and we have invested and will continue to invest in the youth,” he said. “My choice to support the PPP can be easily explained.”

From the Essequibo Coast, young leader Azizi Christiani echoed the message of inclusion: “This party believes that young people are not just the future but the present,” he said, “and that is why we are getting the opportunity now to lead.”

Former national cricketer and businessman Steven Jacobs also threw his support behind President Irfaan Ali. “We have a decision to make on Sept 1 and let us not worry about personalities,” he told the crowd. “Let us ensure we vote for someone with a vision, someone with a plan and someone with a track record.”

Candidates Vickash Ramkissoon and Mishka White rounded out the evening, underscoring the PPP/C’s commitment to shaping a diverse, youth-driven future.

Cultural performances by Sonia Singh and Calvin Burnette helped round out the rally, which mixed political momentum with a celebration of national unity.