Latest update February 2nd, 2025 8:30 AM
Mar 11, 2015 Letters
Dear Editor,
I write this letter in an attempt to generate public debate on how best to mobilize young voters, to participate in a big way, in the upcoming May 11th General and Regional Elections. The intention here is not simply to get them to cast their ballots but, more importantly, to get them to understand why they must do so for the APNU/ AFC coalition.
Many will claim that this debate has already begun and they would be correct in making that observation. However, the difference in the debate I am trying to evoke is this – while it is true that the discussion in the media points to the importance of this group of voters, nothing is being said about the tactics and strategies which have to be adopted to bring these voters to the polls.
No analysis is taking place on the influences these young people are subjected to daily and how they react to them. It is as if this does not matter. What I perceive to be uppermost in the minds of the debaters is the need to get young people to the polling booths on May 11th in order to bring about a change in government.
Letter writers and columnists point to the fact that young people between the ages of 18 and 35 years comprise the single largest bloc of voters in Guyana, hence their capacity to make a difference in the upcoming elections.
Some estimates have this block as consisting of between 60 and 65 % of our electoral roll. This fact that young people is the largest group of voters is nothing new. This has been so since 1992 and continued to be so for every election up to 2011. However, notwithstanding the number of electors on the 2015 provisional list of electors of which some concerns have been raised about its size, people should not be surprised about the size of the youth electorate in the 2015 list.
A fact that should not escape our attention is that in all those elections referred to, this group has not voted differently from their elders. This applies to youths of all races.
Understanding this reality and finding the appropriate methods to reverse this trend is important to the fate of contesting parties in the elections. My contention is that young people in Guyana have not developed the political consciousness or the organizational framework that is necessary to make them vote as a block, in the process of which their special interests are advanced.
I am aware of recently formed organizations seeking to fill this vacuum, but these are yet to demonstrate their effectiveness. The weaknesses I refer to prevent young people in Guyana from realizing their political power.
Women, in Canada for example, vote as a block when necessary to defend their interests. In the course of exercising their vote they make or break governments in elections. In Guyana young people’s politics is shaped by party politics. Since party politics to a great extent is generally influenced by race/ethnic insecurity; our young people’s politics in these circumstances have not been driven by issues relevant to youth interests.
I wish to warn the APNU/AFC campaign strategists that they have to be cognizant of the past and recent history of our young people’s political and electoral behavior.
The party that masters youth mobilization will prevail come May 11, 2015.
Tacuma Ogunseye
Feb 02, 2025
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