Youths “no longer be taken for granted” – Minister Norton
DPI, Guyana, Friday, April 6, 2018
Youths of Linden, Region Ten were today assured by Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton that they will “no longer be taken for granted”. Minister Norton made the declaration during a sensitisation exercise for faith-based youths, held at the New Silvercity Secondary School.
Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton.
The minister reminded those gathered, because of their religious backgrounds, they will be expected to lead the way in promoting unity, “…because we depend so much on you, the leadership of this country, the administration, we need to pay much more attention to you. We need to recognise your endeavours and it is a policy position that this administration is taking,” Minister Norton said
According to the minister, there is much the older generation can learn about social cohesion through observation of the daily interactions of young people. “When you see how the youths behave, there is no ethnicity, race does not matter to them. They go and they play… that thing we have of segregation and discrimination and preferences is something that was passed down from the older folks and if we can recognise that, then it means we have got to take a page from the youths.”
Social cohesion, the minister noted, is crucial to ensuring unity among Guyanese. However, he noted that everyone needs to be on board. “We must understand that our diversity, our different ways, and different cultures, that it is our strength and we must use it to our advantage. We must never let our differences be used to keep us down and stymie our development, we must use it for our future development.”
The youths were also informed of the various outreaches that have been held countrywide. These exercises, Minister Norton said, were a necessary means of ensuring that everyone has equal access to opportunities and enjoy the same benefits that the government is providing countrywide. Following the sensitisation exercise, a two-day workshop will be held to further instruct the youths of their roles in helping to shape a cohesive Guyana.
The exercise is part of the ministry’s ongoing countrywide outreach programme aimed at (i) informing citizens about the benefits of social cohesion and how the ministry plans on achieving its vision of a unified Guyana where conflicts are embraced and resolved, (ii) there is networking among stakeholders, and equity promoted countrywide.
Youths gathered at the sensitisation exercise in Linden.
By: Isaiah Braithwaite