President Irfaan Ali yesterday launched a youth advisory council to ensure the involvement of young people in decision-making and development as government works to build Guyana’s future.
“They are here because I believe strongly that we need our young people to be critically integrated into policy-making and into the policy implementation of our country so they can have a thorough understanding, an in depth understanding as to how policies are determined, why they are determined and they can contribute in the finalisation of the policies and programmes that will take our country forward,” Ali said as he addressed a packed conference room at Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) for the launching of the President’s Youth Advisory Council (PYAC).
The event coincided with the observance International Youth Day.
The initiative was also the fulfilment of a promise made in the governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) 2020 elections campaign manifesto.
Young professionals from the various sectors and fields comprise the council, which is being chaired by former The New Movement (TNM) member Dr Josh Kanhai. Among the notable members is former PNCR member Thandi McAllister, an attorney and Legal Counsel at the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD).
The Head of State assured that the youths on the council will be a part of decision and policy making. This opportunity, he posited, will allow young people to have a voice in setting the foundation of the future they want to see.
At every level of decision making, Ali stressed, the youth council will play an active role and all decisions will have input from youths, offering them a hands-on approach to governance works, while actively exposing them to real time projects.
He went on to explain that some of the outputs for the advisory council will be for them to “sit down with the banking system and identify opportunities from a business perspective that young people can engage in… working with people with disabilities… working with our former national football players, cricketers, hockey, squash and integrating them into the development path of pushing sports and using sports as a tool to empower people and bring new talents. They will be doing a lot of this type of work.”
The members, he stressed, will be placed in their areas of expertise to put their skills to use and enhance the services at all levels of government and encourage other young people to be a part of the initiative.
Throughout their time on the council, he added that they will be guided by mentors and experienced personnel in crafting of decisions and policies, problem solving, and implementation of policies, among other areas relating to governance and national development.
“We always hear the future belongs to the young people but what future are we talking about and who decides what future we want to give to young people and how young people [are] integrated in defining that future…? It is [therefore] important that young people are involved in the definition and the implementation of policy and programmes that are aimed at taking us to a place that we term ‘development,’” Ali added.
Minister of Culture Youth and Sport Charles Ramson, under whose ministry the programme falls, told the council members that they should not view their participation on the council as a political gimmick but rather a move to national development and transformation.
Ramson stated that while youths in some countries do not have a voice, in Guyana they are getting a seat at the table.
In brief remarks, Kanhai said they will work to ensure that every youth sees the vision of future Guyana. He stated that they look forward to meaningful consultations and interactions with youths in every region who have a view on moving the country forward.
He charged youths with ambition to step forward and be a part of the conversation on how to develop Guyana.
