Young people are capable and should be afforded the opportunity to assume leadership roles

Dec 18, 2019 Letters

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DEAR EDITOR,

Young people are increasingly becoming more aware of what is happening in our communities and ultimately the country we are living in. As such, more and more of us are getting civically and politically involved in our country. It is important that we as Guyanese continue to promote these sorts of engagements, as globally, young people have had poor voter turnouts at national elections.
This engagement and new surge of hope and passion, is birthed out of young people being wary of what we know as “Guyanese politics”. There is often a popular thought that floats around political spaces, and it says “young people aren’t interested in politics” but I think a more truthful statement should read “young people are not interested in divisive race politics”.
Unfortunately, for some of us who are less informed, it is all we believe politics to be.
It was Langston Hughes, an African American Poet, who wrote in one of his more popular pieces, a poem; A Theme for English B, “But I guess, I am what I see, hear and feel. Harlem, I hear you”. Hughes was speaking about the influence our environment and those around us, have on our personal development and the experiences we will have.
Guyanese Youth, in many ways are what we “see, hear and feel”. As a result, I think it’s important that we demand politicians and persons in positions of power to have respect for their office and carry themselves with much honour and respect. This will ensure that the examples we have in office, are not negative influences on what politics will be in Guyana.
If you are like me and peruse social media daily, you’d see how some young people have fallen into the trap of divisive politics and race hate. “This is nah no play play thing, it gah fuh stop NOW!”
Out of what I suspect to be frustration, lack of representation and constant erasure, a lot of new political parties and social movements are popping up. Many of these parties are being led by young people, or have young people at the forefront of the movements.
I am personally, impressed by what this speaks to. This indicates that young people do not just want to see change happen, but we are willing to work for it. It was something I personally have been using my social media to promote for a few years now, even before I could cast a vote myself.
As my older relatives would often say, “these chirren hay today, born with nuff sense” and I believe that really and truly this generation is by far the most educated, innovative and creative generation the world has ever seen. We have to be better.
Ultimately, we need to take responsibility and ownership of our own lives and our own development, and that means getting involved in civic and political engagement. We need to be at the forefront of creating and fostering a “NEW ERA” of politics. One that is progressive, respectful and action based. We have to be the artists to our own destinies.
Naturally, some of you would ask “Why should I get involved or vote?” Or some of you might say or may have heard someone say, “I ain’t gon vote caz is the same thing over and over”. To those persons, I’d say that you need to exercise your constitutional right to vote, but also understand that voting is just the beginning, the real work is promoting engagement and accountability during the term.
Often times, we talk about “rights” but we don’t talk about “responsibilities” and as citizens of this Cooperative Republic, we have to know what these responsibilities are. We need to ensure that we foster a safe and unified society, by starting with self, then moving on our families, and our communities.
Our main responsibility is to hold persons in office (opposition and government), accountable. This can be done by; writing them letters and emails, scheduling meetings where possible, posting on social media, and in drastic cases organising peaceful protests and demonstrations.
We must also respect each other’s views and opinions, when people speak their truth. Every so often, when people speak out there are bitter forces who attack, insult and try to muzzle them. We need to call people out for those actions. If you are going to counter an argument then do so respectfully.
My advice to young people, is that while I promote civic and political engagement; please be mindful that politicians sometimes use and misuse us for votes and forget about us after.
Let’s be smarter and more strategic, we need to be “subjects and not objects” in political dialogue. We need to demand more to ensure our voices are represented post elections. We have to bury the culture of using young people at fish shop rallies and then go into office and forget about those faces.
Young people are capable and should be afforded the opportunity to assume leadership roles in governments and opposition. Traditionally, women were not represented in spaces of power and with the rise of the feminist movement; women fought for and demanded quotas to ensure they were adequately represented.
The same way, young people should be calling on parties (new and old) to ensure young people are represented at all levels of leadership including parliament, government boards and management of government offices, party committees, etc.
In Trinidad, we have people like Nikoli Edward, the youngest independent senator to be elected. He later founded a political party, and will contest the next elections; all of which he did before 30. A few years ago, at 22 years old, Travis Robinson became the youngest MP to serve on a country’s legislative body in the Caribbean. In the past, he also served as Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism.
Currently, Judd Cadett is the Grenadian government’s youngest senator and works closely with key government projects.
Why did I mention this? What does this mean? I want to paint you a picture that the rest of the Caribbean has led by example and entrusted young people with the power they worked hard for and to represent their people who need to be represented the most.
I am aware that it is not all bad in Guyana, as young people came out at the last Local Government elections contested and won their constituencies. Georgetown and Mahdia have also elected young mayors in the past, but we need to replicate this at all levels.
Every major issue is a youth issue, and every decision made affects us and the future, which we will inherit. Therefore, it is paramount that we are included in all decision-making processes. We need to be there, because as many activists would have said in the past; “there can nothing for us, without us”.
That being said, we need to continue to rise to the challenge and work hard. Let them bring us to the table, not just because we are young and can be used as tokens but because we are competent. Let’s not just sit at the table and be entitled, but work hard and prove why we are sitting there.
Sincerely,
Dennis Anthony Duncan-Glasgow

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