THE PNCR CONGRESS AND YOUTHS

Aug 15, 2018 Editorial

This weekend the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), the largest party in the coalition government, will be holding its 20th Biennial Congress at the party headquarters in Sophia, where a number of issues will be discussed. It is perhaps the most important Congress in the history of the party.
With billions of dollars expected in revenue from oil, the PNC-led coalition government could, in that one moment in time, become the representation of a new Guyana. But its leaders must present to the nation a genuine developmental framework with a vision to make Guyana the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business.
At the Congress, members of the party will assess the progress it has made in governance, and review how the party has discharged its responsibilities with the mandate given to it by the electorate. They will also gauge and highlight the success of the party and the steps taken to correct the mistakes or failures during the past two years. Of even greater importance, the party will analyze the present circumstances in the country and outline a plan for the future.
The Congress is gearing up for a robust debate involving youths, who will obviously advocate for changes in the party to meet the inevitable challenges in the 21st century. They know that the party cannot continue along the same old paths with the same leaders. It must be prepared to make changes to remain relevant. Even though there are no challenges for the leadership position at the Congress, there is competition for the chairman, vice-chairman and other high-level positions in the party.
It is customary for members of the party not to challenge its incumbent leader, who will be allowed to resign gracefully. Anyone who challenges the leader is severely criticized and will likely be pressured to withdraw.
The most regrettable casualties of such a situation are youths who have become disillusioned with the status-quo. More than 30 percent of youths will be delegates at the Congress, yet they do not have much input in the decision-making of the party. Some members believe that they should, given the fact that a majority voted for the coalition in the last election and that a large number of them were field organizers for the party.
The history of the youth movement over the past two decades has not been good. However, the transition of the Young Socialist Movement to a mass-based Young Student Movement has strengthened the youth undertaking in the party, and should provide them with more opportunities to assume leadership positions.
Many are opining that the senior party members must be prepared to pass the baton to the next generation sooner rather than later, but this is easier said than done.

There was a time when only seniors were considered qualified and experienced enough to lead the party, but that time has long passed. The demographic of the country has changed drastically in favour of youths in the last two decades.
Today, youths aged 15 to 30 are more than 60 percent of the population and they have become the political powerhouses in the country. The failure of the leaders of the PNCR to recognize this could be detrimental to the future of the party. The support of youths to do well in the upcoming local government elections as well as the next general elections will be at stake.

Discover more from Kaieteur News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Latest News