By Samuel Gillis
The 9th Annual Youth Parliament was launched today in the Parliament Chambers of the Public Buildings in Georgetown.
This year’s event, utilizing a hybrid method of virtual training and physical sittings, will see 84 young participants engaging in parliamentary procedures, including drafting bills and debating policy matters.
The physical sittings are scheduled for Thursday, August 15, and Friday, August 16, 2024, with 39 participants in the junior category and 45 in the senior category.
The junior participants were selected from the Ministry of Education’s 11 districts and the Ministry of Human Services’ Young Influencers Programme.
The senior participants were chosen from the Second Speaker’s National Youth Debating Competition, the Universities of Guyana and the West Indies, several technical institutes, the Guyana Industrial Training Centre, and Nations Incorporated.
Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sports, Charles Ramson Jr., urged participants to give their all, emphasizing the importance of fully committing to the experience.
Minister of Public Affairs, Kwame McCoy, highlighted the significance of the Youth Parliament in shaping the future of Guyana, describing it as a platform for young leaders to engage in the political process and contribute meaningfully to national development.
The Youth Parliament continues to be a pivotal program in fostering youth engagement in governance, allowing aspiring young leaders to gain practical knowledge of the legislative process.