Use experience from Youth Parliament 2023 to safeguard democracy, make crucial decisions – McCoy

Returning for its eighth year, Youth Parliament 2023 opened on Saturday, offering 86 young people the opportunity to enhance their public speaking skills while working to find solutions to key political, social, and economic issues.
During the opening ceremony at the Chamber of the Public Buildings, Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy emphasised the role Youth Parliament plays in improving the debating skills of young people on critical issues affecting them and the country.

“Our Youth Parliament has always provided a forum for young Guyanese to develop and express their opinions on societal topics in a kind and positive environment where they are all embraced, mentored, and provided a platform to debate and jointly brainstorm on the possible solutions to a wide range of current challenges,” McCoy said.
“To our young people, your participation in Youth Parliament holds tremendous benefits. You take so much more back with you to your communities, homes, schools, and other parts of your life,” the Minister added.
He stated that in his own experience, he has observed participants learning to recognise and respect different perspectives as well as become more confident in expressing their views publicly.

These are crucial skills, he said, which are needed, with Guyana being in the midst of unprecedented accelerated growth in both oil and non-oil sectors.
The Minister expressed his belief that as this development continues, there are a number of young people committed and ready to seize available opportunities to make tough decisions and safeguard the country’s democracy.
“We have, in our midst, young people who are able to formulate plans for the participation in our oil economy, while championing the adaptation of modern approaches to traditional sectors of agriculture, health and education,” McCoy said.
Meanwhile, Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir explained that parliamentary democracy is built on a foundation of persons having a voice and being able to use it, while also being a system of majoritarian rule.
“So, if you’re a minority, you have to work even harder to convince more persons so you could end up in the majority – to convince them of your views but more particularly must be done in an orderly fashion with respect for each other’s rights. You have a right to speak, a right to associate with people of your own views and a right to democracy,” Nadir said.
“If we can do things in an orderly fashion, if we can do things with respect to each other, we will make more progress,” Nadir added.
The 86 young people participating in this year’s Youth Parliament were selected from a series of debates held under the Speaker’s Youth Debating Competition throughout the country over the past few months.
In July, the competition concluded with the Human Services and Social Security Ministry’s Young Influencers team securing the coveted win.
Before the sittings of the Youth Parliament on August 17 and 18, participants will be receiving mentorship and relevant information on the role of the Parliament, as well as public speaking skills. (Pooja Rambaran)