Youths rallying around APNU for upcoming elections

Jul 07, 2025 News

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Kaieteur News – A host of young Guyanese said that they have decided to rally around the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) coalition because of the commitment by leader and presidential candidate, Aubrey Norton, to have their best interest at heart.

Over the past few weeks, Norton has been speaking extensively on the party’s youth population and the rising number of young persons joining. The recent resignations of two prominent youth leaders within the Alliance for Change (AFC), Onix Duncan and Dillon Mohamed, saw a shocking re-emergence of the duo on APNU’s political stage.

During the official launch of APNU’s elections campaign Sunday, Mohamed told the Kaieteur News that the APNU coalition is the only political party at the moment that has the interest of the people and youths at heart. He noted that in the past, a lot of leaders were observed making promises, but in actuality, they had no care for the needs of citizens.

“For the first time we are actually seeing in this APNU coalition, we have leaders who actually have interest in the people, so that is why I would say to everyone to choose the APNU coalition,” Mohamed said.

Speaking on some of the issues youths may face, the young man disclosed that up until last year he was a part of the public service for nine years and had worked under both an APNU and a People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) government. He said the treatment meted out was vastly different.

“I can tell you that my treatment under the APNU/AFC coalition government from 2015-2020 was much better, than it was from 2020 to last year. Some of the issues that I would have faced as a young person in the public service would be discrimination. I was discriminated on the basis of my race, of my sexuality, of my culture, even my religious belief,” he added.

Another youth, Rivaldo Birbal, told this publication that he supports the APNU and Norton because of the policies outlined, especially the ones specifically for youths.

“We have policies like the ‘Rent to Own’ where youth like myself can own a home without any pressure. Another key policy that we have would be the free education (at all levels). Education is the pillar of a nation and I think that with free education, youths like myself would have the resources to succeed and to elevate themselves under any circumstance,” Birbal said.

Onix Duncan, in his interview with this publication, told the Kaieteur News reporter that he thinks that the APNU is very inclusive and inclusion is one of the things he has always fought for as a youth growing up.

“I stepped away from that (the AFC) because I wasn’t getting that inclusion at the table, in terms of my voice (being heard), in regards to the decision-making process and that is why I am here at the APNU coalition campaign,” he said.

Duncan highlighted that another critical issue that needs to be addressed is youth in politics and the APNU coalition is bringing it to the forefront, by having them involved and giving them a voice to speak on policies that will push youth forward.

The lone female this publication managed to interview, Cassandra (only name given), said that she chose the APNU because it is a party of the people and over the years as a young person observing the party’s values and policies, she realised this is where she needs to be.

“We are always on the ground, we are always doing things for the people,” she said.

Commenting on issues Guyanese youths face, the young lady highlighted employment and the particular situation where even though one may have a degree, a certain number of years of experience is often required in order to be employed in a position, even though you may be qualified for it.

Kibwe Copeland, the leader of the youth arm of the APNU, told the Kaieteur News that he has been a part of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), which is the largest party in the coalition since 2010.

He continues to remain under the APNU because he believes that, “it speaks to transparency. It speaks to development. It speaks to youth, development. I have been around this party…and I’ve also been able to utilise my position, of course, around for other members to youth and to develop their lives as well.”

Copeland said that while there is not much investment in young people, the APNU has plans for entrepreneurship, business, and politics, among other things.

On Sunday, thousands of persons gathered at the Square of the Revolution, also known as ‘Cuffy Square’, decked out in their green t—shirts which were plastered with the faces of presidential candidate of the APNU, Aubrey Norton, and his running mate, Juretha Fernandes, to celebrate the launch of the APNU’s election campaign under the theme “Putting People First.”

Starting off the event with prayer by religious leaders from Guyana’s three main groups, patrons were encouraged to invite the presence of whoever they served to guide the day’s proceedings.

Though the afternoon sun still had a presence on the tarmac and in a matter of one hour the crowd at least tripled in size, with patrons waving the national flag, rags and any other items that could be waved.

Supporters were entertained by tassa drums from a team nicknamed ‘Mahipaul’s Tassa Group’, the catchy jingles of the APNU and energetic, tantalising soca music from both the local and regional stages.

Throughout, leaders and members from the various parties under the coalition gave speeches on what they expected to come out of the 2025 elections, what they wanted to see under a Norton administration and where they believed Guyana was headed. One thing was very clear; they all had absolute confidence in the coalition and in Norton being the next president of Guyana.

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• APNU, Aubrey Norton, Elections, Norton, youth

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