A generation betrayed? Coalition reneged on election promises to young Guyanese

Aug 29, 2016 News

– say AFC youth leader, political analyst

By Abena Rockcliffe-Campbell

“Life is stage where each man must play his part, and mine, a sad one.”
That’s the lament of a character in Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice.
But it may well be the refrain of many youths in Guyana, who, after the euphoria of the last General Elections, feel that APNU+AFC coalition has reneged on its promises to them.
One of the strongest pitches the coalition made during its campaign was to the younger generation with a rallying cry of: “Youths, it is time to vote for jobs.”
But has that promise been kept to those who represent 60 percent of the voting populace?
Political analyst, Fredrick Kissoon opined that ignoring the youths is one of the worst mistakes made by the coalition thus far, “and there can be no analytical excuse for it.”
Kissoon pointed to the fact that the government scrapped the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport and made it into a department of the Ministry of Education.
“You are dealing with a population that is 70 percent under the age of 40 and 60 percent under the age of 35. Guyana is one of the most youthful countries in the world.  Why would you get rid of a Ministry that is to look into the well being of youths? It is just not logical,” said Kissoon.

AFC youth leader, Leon Hunte

The political analyst questions whether, before scrapping the Ministry, government took into account the high crime rate among youths, and the fact that many high school leavers and University graduates cannot get gainful employment.
Kissoon said that the sociological and psychological problems cry out for special treatment.
“How can you justify two Ministries of Amerindian affairs, in a country where the Amerindians constitute 10 percent, three Ministers in the Ministry of Community but no Ministry of Youth?”

TREATMENT OF YOUTHS
According to Kissoon, approximately 90 percent of the very important appointments, including at the Cabinet level, the Foreign Service and the hierarchy of the public sector, were given to persons who were over 60.
“Two of the most recent appointments, the Vice Chancellor of the University and the Ambassador to UN are both persons nearing 60.”
This shape of governance leads anyone to ask the question: aren’t there talented educated young people in Guyana?
“Yes we have young talented people in Guyana,” said Kissoon.
He posited that the problem is the government’s lack of vision and framework for dealing with the youthful population. Kissoon said that the lack of emphasis on youths and youthful employment in strategic positions in the public section is so conspicuous that it leaves analysts to feel that it a deliberate policy.

BAD POLITICS, BAD GOVERNANCE
The columnist told Kaieteur News that the coalition is practicing bad politics and bad governance.
He spoke about pragmatic politics which in the text book has a distinct term : ‘realpolitik’, meaning policies that serve the holder of power and supporters, “if it suits your purpose try it.”
He said that this form of politics has been practiced since independence. Burnham favored the public service because of its strong support base; PPP protected the sugar Industry for the same reason. “But this kind of politics has no basis for national goodness and will not result in national virtue.”
Kissoon then turned his attention to good governance. He said that this is the execution of policies that rebound to the good of the country, and it takes in all constituencies.

“But this is bad politics and bad governance; it is filled with uncertainties about Guyana’s future. The effect will be a national disaster.”
Kissoon said that the youth vote carried the APNU+AFC over. He said that youth votes have been uncertain in all the elections from 1997, but had the largest turn out in 2015. “The largest turn out in Georgetown has seen is 2015. The exuberance of youth carried the coalition into power.”
Kissoon said that just like there is to be a COI into the education system, there needs to be a serious coming together of intellectual minds to develop a strategic plan for the youth of Guyana.
He said that this is one of the most urgent businesses for the government, “it should be financed and done as early as possible.”

THE VOICE OF AN AFC YOUTH
Leon Hunt is an AFC youth leader, and  there are probably few youths in Guyana more disappointed about what seems to be the broken promises made to youths.
He told Kaieteur News that young people all across Guyana have been ‘’insulted” by this government.
The insult lies in the simple ignoring of the youths.
Hunte said that if any of the politicians in power are to do a survey, they will find that 90 percent of the youths of Guyana feel betrayed and are unhappy with the way they have been treated.
“The youths are hurt because they really expected better form this administration.”
He said that the youths worked hard to get the coalition into power.
Hunte noted that not all of them may have been on the campaign trail, but said that they all played a very important role, they came out and voted.
Hunte said that nations around the world are built with the help of all willing and able to serve in positions best suited for them.
“Are you to tell me that there aren’t any young people suited for high positions in this country? We cannot all be ignorant and dull.  There must have been some amongst us who could have stood strong.”
Hunte said that he feels as if young people are going down a slope and there seems to be no intervention on the way.
“The result will be crime, poverty and further brain drain. Government has to provide the opportunity for growth.
He said that on many occasions he raised these concerns to his leaders, but to no avail. “Yes, we know that it is a coalition, but if they (AFC leaders) wanted bad enough to do something for the youths, they would have. AFC is a middle class party filled with many young intellectuals. Our leaders need to stand up for us, we do not want special favors, all we want is the opportunity we deserve.”
Hunte said that it is atrocious that no one has since faced the nation since elections to at least give hope to the youths.
“We have one of the oldest Cabinets in the Region but no official seems to be responsible enough to face us and tell us about the promise they made,” said Hunte.