Inaugural Youth Caucus deemed a success
─ dozens of hinterland youth were in attendance
─ served as a forum for youth engagement
DPI, Guyana, Monday, April 1, 2019
Scores of young people from all ten regions flocked to the inaugural Youth Caucus on Friday. Several young leaders spoke to the Department of Public Information (DPI) on what they considered the success of the event and the initiatives that the government is taking to involve them. The caucus dealt with problems within the education sector, defending Guyana’s territorial integrity, insights on crime and violence, Guyana’s emerging economy, sustainable development goals, youth and entrepreneurship, as well as sport and culture.
Ronaldo Robertson is a teacher from the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo Region (Region 9). He teaches dance as a form of expression to his students. According to him, one of his biggest goals would be to bring the region up to par with the standard of dance and expression that is present on the coast. Attending the caucus, he noted, “means a lot because I will be able to take back information and basically swap information, what I’m bringing from Region 9 and what I’m going to be taking from here to help better Region 9,” Robertson said. “We are here to raise our issues, for me, issues of education. I am going to work towards having dance as a part of the curriculum. For high school drop-outs as well, [regardless] of how early they have dropped out of school to get back in and to get employment.”
Vaughn Duncan, of Region 9, said the conference was a great initiative and served hinterland youth well: “From the discussions I’ve seen, the youths have a vision and they are passionate about what they stand for and what they want our policymakers to do and I feel that that’s very commendable. This is a forum where I can learn from and I can use it to ensure that the hinterland is represented and that the hinterland can experience a paradigm change.” He added that while more could be done, the actions so far taken to propel the president’s vision of bridging the gaps that exist between “the hinterland and coast have been working and that the hinterland communities have seen unprecedented growth. I can see steps being done to achieve that and one of the huge successes I would refer to is telecommunications.”
Duncan was referring to the huge investment the government, through the Ministry of Public Telecommunications, has made in providing ICT Hubs, internet hotspots, free e-gov wi-fi platforms and adding internet and cellular access throughout the hinterland regions. “I am happy with the progress!”
Bishops’ High School Sixth Form student, Aliyah Anthony noted that the forum piqued her interest because of its interactive nature. For Anthony, it was an opportune time to voice her interests regarding youth issues concerning social and educational matters.
“I’ve been able to listen to a lot of motivational and inspirational people so far. The tone this caucus sets, is that it presented a forum for people to air what’s bothering them and what’s their social concerns. I could apply this in my daily life, my school life, as a leader, to listen to the concerns of others and to let them voice their concerns and to see how I can develop and work and fix these and apply solutions.”
Youth worker of Region 6, Eneca James said that her community has young people who are using drugs, school dropouts and teenage pregnancy – social ills that she would like solutions for, with her involvement.
Bakeda Clarke, also from the East Berbice-Corentyne Region, said that the caucus will allow for solutions for crime and other issues plaguing her community. “I came here, to gain the knowledge so when I go back into my community, I could tell the youths what is right from wrong. This is very important. It would benefit people because… I could go back and tell these people to let us form a group.”
The caucus is an opportunity where the youth of the country would be allowed to express their ideas, to make suggestions and recommendations.
“The youth caucus is an opportunity where they can express their vision, which is what we want to evaluate and take the necessary actions,” Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton explained.
‘One Youth’, the organiser, is an active collaboration of youth groups comprising political, non-governmental, religious and private groups, who work to ensure that the youth voice be heard at all levels for change.
Nateshia Isaacs.
Images: Keno George.