The University of Guyana on Thursday hosted a special edition of its ‘Turkeyen and Tain Talks’ where young representatives from political parties contesting the March 2nd general and regional elections discussed leadership and the place of youth within the country’s political structure.
At the event, which was held at the Pegasus Hotel, the representatives, who are all on their party’s lists of candidates, were questioned on a number of topics by moderators, including their views on leadership, the nation’s priorities and positions that they see themselves in if their respective party wins the upcoming elections.
The candidates were Carlos Gonsalves of A New and United Guyana (ANUG), Dr Quincy Jones of the APNU+AFC, Mahendra Phagwah of Change Guyana (CG), Davon Van-Veen of the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), Kobe Cort of The Citizenship Initiative (TCI), Dr Andrew Hutson of The New Movement (TNM) and Avinash Singh, who represented the United Republican Party (URP). The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) representative Sanjeev Datadin did not appear on time at the event.
Interest in politics and leadership
The forum started with each representative introducing themselves and speaking about why they chose to become involved in politics and more specifically, at this time.
Singh said he chose to step forward at this time as Guyana is in need of leaders who have the ability to craft answers to problems that may arise. Hutson indicated that he stepped into politics at first just to support his friends, but according to him, he noticed that Guyanese have lost their humanity and he feels like he is there to give a voice to some of the things that needed to be said a long time ago.
Cort, meanwhile, said he was fed up with Guyana’s history of the two main political parties dominating as he feels that after observing both of the major parties “the same game is being played just with different players.”
For Jones, his motivation for stepping up and getting involved stemmed from being provided with a sense of security under the governing APNU+AFC government as a “disadvantaged youth.” Jones said that his observations over the past five years and the administration’s provisions for disadvantaged youths like himself led him to stand behind the government to see that progress continue.
Van-Veen summed up his motivation for becoming involved in politics as “hurt.” He said that after enduring one system of politics for most of his life, he wanted change. However, when that change came, nothing happened. “Instead of me just sitting in the corner muttering and fretting, let me become part of the solution,” he said.
Phagwah said that he too was fed up of the two main parties fighting each other, which causes division amongst Guyanese. He said that outsiders are observing the political situation in the country and laughing, and added that change should start with each individual.
Gonsalves, meanwhile, shared his personal experience noting that after fighting for some time to prove persons wrong and doing things that persons, said he would never be able to do, he realised that he wants to help persons and being able to make a change.
The first set of questions posed to the representatives focused on the topic of leadership. They were all given a time limit within which they could speak on certain topics or answer questions posed to them.
According to Gonsalves, a good leader would be “ferocious,” calculated, objective and proactive. He said that the leader should be committed to serving people and unbiased, while loving and respecting all parts of societies. Phagwah told the gathering that he thinks a good leader is someone who makes a difference in others’ lives. He said the leader of his party is an example of a good leader. Other representatives described a good leader as transparent, honest, courageous and even “God-fearing.” They also mentioned that a good leader should be one who is mobilised and speaks to the people and is accountable.
The youths agreed that the kind of leadership that Guyana needs right now are leaders who will focus on the welfare of the people they serve instead of themselves, and on the creation of productive industries that will take advantage of the revenue from Guyana’s oil resources. The candidates noted that the leadership needed is one in which everyone can work together for the good of the country and its people. They added that the leadership should be focused on unity.
Portfolio
Though some candidates have not yet been assigned specific roles and/or portfolios within their parties, they were also quizzed on the portfolios that they would wish to take over or be a part of if their party wins the upcoming elections. Several responded that they would like to be involved in education, becoming the Minister of Education or playing an integral role within that sector.
Phagwah said that he would like to become the education minister as he experienced first-hand the harshness of the said ministry’s policies and wants to bring a change to that sector. “Yes, qualification is important, but qualifications that go with experience is an asset and our people of this country want leaders that can relate to their issues, that can empathise with what they are going through in the education sector,” he said. He noted that he wants to revamp the education sector.
Van-Veen also expressed interest in the education ministry, saying he believes that Guyana needs an education system that prepares people for jobs in the 21st century. “We need to de-colonise our education system; we need an education system that is not abusive,” he said. The youth added that the education system needs to take into consideration the inequities around all regions in Guyana. “If we fix our education system, we are going to fix most of the issues in Guyana,” he contended, while adding that most of the issues in the country stem from poor education.
Cort also expressed interest in taking up a post within the education sector. He said that within the ministry, he would have the chance to work with youths. He feels that the education system is outdated as not much has changed and highlighted that the same methods of teaching used in the past are still being utilised. He added that there are no provisions within the sector for slow learners or persons who learn differently from others.
Gonsalves said that he would take up the task of becoming a Minister of Youth as his youth would give him an advantage in connecting with other youth and implementing policies that would spearhead the development of youth within the country. He said within that portfolio, he would be able to oversee and ensure that all youth, inclusive of disabled persons, slow learners and impoverished youths achieve skills so that they can become productive adults.
Meantime, Jones said that he would like to take up a portfolio within the telecommunications sector as we enter “the fourth industrial revolution.” According to the doctor, man and machine are becoming more alike as time goes by and we should be able to take advantage of information. He said that with a post within that sector, he can assist in enabling the telecommunications infrastructure to provide Guyanese with accessible internet and the necessary skills to advance Guyana to the future. He added that revenues from the oil and gas industry can be invested in sustainable sectors, citing financial technology as an example.
Hutson, who currently acts as a policy advisor to his party, said that he likes that portfolio and would not like his role in the party to be extended beyond that position “for now.” He said that as his specialty is healthcare, he sees himself being a policy advisor within the health sector as he feels there is a lot of reform needed. He noted that a “system seeking approach” can be applied. “Our research in terms of the healthcare industry is lacking,” he added.
URP’s candidate Avinash Singh stated that he would choose the portfolio of Minister of Agriculture as he believes that agriculture is the key to the country’s development. “We all know that agriculture has brought us this far,” he said while adding that a strong indigenous food production programme would have important development advantages. “I know we have the new project with oil, but… agriculture as a lot of you guys know is Guyana’s backbone,” he said.
The audience at the event was filled with representatives from the various parties, university students, and others, who were later given the opportunity to question the representatives from the parties that sat on the panel.
