Dear Editor,
The first few words of one of our national songs run, “Youths are important to Guyana.” These words are indeed very applicable at this time as we prepare for national and regional elections. It is the young people who with their votes will decide which political party wins these elections because they account for over 60% of the voters.
Our young people now have an opportunity to decide what kind of country they want to live in and what future they want for themselves and their families.
They will decide whether they want to live in a divided society or a united society. I am of the view that the youths are fed up with the winner-take-all politics that is crippling our country; our young people want to live in a country where the wealth of the nation is divided equally, and where there is equal opportunity for jobs, education and health care.
Our youths need to be able to share in each other’s culture; they want to play together regardless of their race or creed. They need to be able to afford a house lot and own an affordable home; they want to have internet access whether they live in Tuschen or La Parfaite Harmonie.
Many young men and women want to join the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF), but they want to join an organization where there is no corruption and where the laws are respected.
Young people need to be creative media workers. They want to be independent, to be able to report the news the way they see it and to report the facts.
The youths of Guyana want to attend a university where the lecturers and other staff members do not have to resort to strike action to demand a living wage; they need a university that is maintained all year round and not only at election time.
Yours faithfully,
Clive Fredericks
