PPP investing in preparing youths in Party, Govt for leadership – Jagdeo

…says APNU/AFC has severe deficit of young, capable leaders

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP), whether at the level of the party or government, is focused on preparing the youths and exposing them to opportunities for experience and growth, knowing that they will one day lead party and country.

This was expressed by PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo, during a press conference to mark the conclusion of the party’s 32nd congress. According to Jagdeo, there was a massive turnout of young people at the party’s workshops. Nor are these passive members. Instead, he said that they are quite vocal on critical issues.
“Now we need to equip them more with the tools. And that’s why we said, these party members. I think we need to equip them more with training. On social media. On artificial intelligence. On all of the things that matter most to their development. And for the propagation of the party,” Jagdeo explained.
“We’ve also offered everybody a chance to improve themselves in Guyana. About 50,000 people. Through four programmes. GOAL, GROW, WIIN and BIT. Have been training since we got back into office. And so, we want these members to also do that. But apart from that, one issue came up is the party school and the leadership training.”
According to Jagdeo, they want to focus on not only teaching members the core philosophy and history of the party, but also preparing them for leadership. Jagdeo was heavily critical of the former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) government, for not giving their younger members a chance to gain experience in governance.
“We want the next generation of leaders to take over basically or lead the party in the future. But we’re also doing this at government level. We’re exposing a whole range of young people, to positions of power.”
“You can only develop experience if you’re given responsibility. And you’re trusted to discharge those responsibilities. APNU suffered enormously in power, because they kept all the geriatrics in every position and did not give young people a chance. And not like they did not have young people.”
Jagdeo cited specific APNU leaders, including current Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton, who served as a Presidential Advisor on Youth Empowerment under the David Granger government; Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Ganesh Mahipaul, who was a Community Development Officer and his fellow parliamentary colleague Amanza Walton-Desir, who was the General Counsel to the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).
“They suffered for it. That’s why I point, Mahipaul in parliament. You think he has any experience to run anything? (He was) a junior man knocking around. Shurwayne Holder, their Chairman, I don’t know…”
“Amanza was a junior person there. Norton was even a junior functionary. Where is the experience to run a country? If they go to tackle oil and gas, you think they can sit and speak with Exxon the way we speak? Or definitively answer questions on policy issues,” Jagdeo said.
The PPP Congress is the highest decision-making forum of the Party, and this year’s biennial congress was the largest in the Party’s history with over 3000 persons registered.
The two-day Congress included seven workshops focusing on key issues relating to strengthening the Party, politics and Parliament, social and economic policies, local Government, social media, international relations, and youth and gender.
The last Congress was held in 2016 when the PPP was in Opposition. This year’s Congress is being hosted ahead of the 2025 General and Regional Elections, where the ruling PPP will be seeking a return to office. (G3)