Dear Editor,
Young people worked very hard for APNU+AFC to win. On May 11 we voted like bosses. The youths of Region 10 did not have the benefit of many advertisements from the APNU+AFC because Linden television and radio which are controlled by NCN were featuring more PPP advertisements. Not many in Linden can afford to purchase newspapers daily and here again many did not have the benefit of regular APNU+AFC advertisements and news.
What kept young people motivated and made us work hard for the elections were our leaders like Mr Sharma Solomon and Ms Vanessa Kissoon. They made us believe that it was alright to believe that we could be the change we wanted to see. Many days the youths involved in the campaign did not know where the next bolt of cloth would come from to make buntings or flags. When cloth was unavailable the lamp-posts were painted instead. When the coalition flyers ran out, persons still knocked on doors and shared the information on the flyers with those they met, asking residents to vote for the APNU+AFC.
When the sun was too hot, two or three persons sheltered under one umbrella and kept going. When it rained whoever didn’t have shelter walked in the rain as they chanted, “It is time,” and sang hymns, calypsoes and Bob Marley songs. When there was little or no money to buy meals the volunteers improvised. When there was no building, or chairs, desks and computers, persons sat on the road and used their cell phones. When night stepped in volunteers moved under the street lights and continued working, checking the Voters’ List, following the news online and sharing information on the various social media. The youths worked hard starting at early as 5 am announcing rallies and meetings, set up the location and stayed until all was over. Our parents placed their trust in Ms Kissoon who was our surrogate mother, mentor, role model and confidante.
Editor, the people of Region 10 were very determined to do all within our power to have a new government because we were made to believe that a new government will respect us and work with us and our leaders. We have several youth groups in Linden and together we worked under the guidance, support and encouragement of the Regional Chairman. For us 2015 was a cause. A cause we had to pursue with all our might.
I read that Mr Glen Bradbury, head of Leadership and Democracy (LEAD), hosted a function on Monday, June 8. At this function were ministers of the government and the “Vote Like a Boss” youth group, among others. What I found most instructive is that Mr Bradbury asked the government not to forget who put them in office and repeated lofty things from government ministers about what they planned to do for youths.
I’d like to say, Editor, the majority of Region 10 voters are young people. We voted not only to change government but also to have a seat at the table of government. What the young are seeing is that this dream is being snatched from us. News is going around in Linden that the APNU+AFC national leaders are going to impose leaders on us who did not work with us or gave us the needed encouragement to believe. Young people are hearing some very disturbing news that our Regional Chairman, Mr Sharma Solomon will not be returning. Youths voted like a boss and want Mr Solomon to remain the boss. No one asked us what we wanted, even though they begged us to come out and vote for them. This disrespect we do not appreciate. It is unfair to make lofty promises to Mr Bradbury about the involvement of youths in decision-making and at the same time deny the youths. One of the reasons why many young people stayed away from politics is because we detest the double speak, the hypocrisy and backstabbing. We think this is what makes politics a dirty game.
I like that the “Vote like a Boss” youth group has now made their campaign slogan “Still a Boss”, where we now move to the stage of holding government accountable. The young people of Region 10 would like to see Mr Sharma Solomon return as Regional Chairman. We were never consulted on our choice, but are hearing all sorts of names coming forward. President David Granger during campaign stops in Region 10 said Mr Solomon will return with an APNU+AFC win and this made us more determined to work our hardest.
We voted for Mr Solomon because we think he has been a very successful, trustworthy and hardworking leader, and is committed to making the Region grow. It was on Mr Solomon and Ms Kissoon’s advice we voted for the APNU+AFC. We call on our leaders in Georgetown to demonstrate to Mr Bradbury their promise to consult and involve the youths in decision-making and leadership roles. Region 10 already has a young leader so why do they want to move without consulting us and when we voted for him to return?
Yours faithfully,
Niossi Alsopp
