The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) recalls the sacrifices and contributions made by its youth arm, the Progressive Youth Organization as it celebrates its 60th anniversary.
In a press release the party said from the time of its formation it saw youth as a vital section of the population which had to be effectively mobilized in order to “[free] Guyanese from the shackles of colonialism and persisting oppression.” As such, it established and ratified its youth arm at the party’s second congress in March 1952, implemented it on September 6 of the same year; two years after the PPP was formed in 1950.
“The name adopted at the formation of the section was the Pioneer Youth League and it shared the aims and objectives of its mother organization,” the release said. This includes the struggle for independence, the need for constitutional reform to provide for self government at all levels; the need for economic development to provide equal economic opportunities for all; the need for employment opportunities to be given to Guyanese on a priority basis and the labour legislation to ensure the rights of workers, especially the young labour force.
The PPP recalled that just 133 days after it was elected to government, the British sent warships to Guiana, suspended the constitution and ejected it from office on October 9, 1953. The government was declared illegal and was forced to go underground, reappearing on the public scene under the names the Guiana Youth Movement, the Guiana Union of Democratic Youth, and later Guiana Union of Patriotic Youth. According to the release, history proves that the PYO was the first youth group which courageously brought young people to the forefront of the struggle for national independence. “The sacrifice was such that a number of its members were jailed and lives were lost” including Michael Forde who, a few months prior to his death had led a PYO independence march from Corentyne to Georgetown in February 1964.
In addition to marches, PYO youths engaged in literature campaigns and picketing exercises and it aligned itself with international youth organizations, where it received active support for its cause. The group’s efforts came to fruition on May 26, 1966 with independence. The party said after a dormant period, the PYO was reinvigorated after a party congress in 1967 where it encountered many years of internal struggle with the People’s National Congress party. In 1992, after free and fair elections the PPP assumed the presidency of the Guyana. The PYO continues to function, recently hosting a national road safety campaign where its members repainted pedestrian crossings in several regions.
