Personal growth, leadership take focus as Youth Parliament returns

Youths from around the country will be testing their debating and persuasive skills, as the Annual Youth Parliament returns.

The 7th Annual Youth Parliament was opened on Friday, as Guyana joined in celebration of International Youth Day.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson divulged that this is an important avenue to build networks and acquire important skills for personal development.
“Forums such as this is an opportunity for you to channel your energies towards your ambitions and your personal goals, but it is an opportunity to grow, learn and immerse yourself in understanding what is the right pathway for you and how you can develop the important skills,” Minister Ramson said in his address.
He added, “Development of yourself and development of your society, country and our civilisation can only happen in that environment of order and structure. And it’s being able to be part of a process like this where you understand and be part of the rules that are there for the benefit of yourself, your society, country and our civilisation is important for it to have that continuity.”
Chief Education Officer, Dr Marcel Hutson detailed that with the development of debating skills among the student population, such avenues create the necessary discipline and order in their personal life.
“I think this activity has its place even in the school system. Even as our children attempt to navigate through life, I get the sense that they will be familiar with parliamentary laws and procedures. These areas could only serve as our students attempt to engage in activities that will cause them to be disciplined and organised. Obviously, their debating skills will also be developed,” the CEO shared.
British High Commissioner Jane Miller underscored that this Youth Parliament provides the platform for the younger generation to articulate and share how they wish to see the world.
“I am delighted to know that you’re going to be taught about good argument, good debate and how that is so important to democracy and Parliament…This International Youth Day is about generational dialogue, which is about old people telling young people how things should be. It is about your energy, youth, inspiration, ideas and how we can listen to see how you would like the world to be.”
The 7th Annual Youth Parliament will be held from August 12-18 with the motto “Our Generation, Our Voice to Inspire, Encourage, Impact”.  This year, there will be 40 participants in the junior category and 46 in the senior category.
Developing elocution skills, ensuring young people are involved in parliamentary democracy, and edifying the population about the function of Parliament are the reasons Youth Parliament and other initiatives were implemented by the Parliament Office.
Participants will be responsible for selecting motions for their robust debates. Those motions will deal with matters prevalent in society. (G12)