–Teixeira on mentoring young leaders

One of the reasons the People’s Progressive Party has endured for more than 75 years, according to senior party member Gail Teixeira, is the mentorship provided by veteran leaders.

Teixeira says a key principle she continues to share with younger politicians is that public service must come before personal interest.

After more than three decades in the leadership of the Peoples Progressive Party and in opposition and government, Teixeira says she feels her duty now is to groom the young members coming into her party and government.

Her goal is to make sure the younger generation have an appreciation of what it took to bring Guyana where it is today and that they become strong leaders of the future.

She says while it is ok for young people to have ambitions, they must also recognise that there is a tremendous amount of responsibility to develop the trust of the population.

“If you have ambitions of your own self and where you gonna go and what you gonna buy and what you gonna do – you’re in the wrong job. That’s my old fashioned, maybe view, but that’s what I believe. And you are there as a politician to serve in the best way, you are the vehicle to serve people. That’s all you are and that’s my thinking,” the Parliamentary Affairs minister expressed.

Young people are urged to remain cognizant of the fact that politics is not just about seeing yourselves; but about serving the people.

“If you go into politics or any professions and its about you and you getting position and you getting this, then you’re not, your heart is not really in it,” she explained.

Teixeira says that for anyone entering public life, the cause must always be greater than the individual.

And as more young people take on leadership roles in government and across the political landscape, she believes politics should remain focused on service and national development rather than personal gain.