Youths must be given opportunities – First Lady

By Devina Samaroo

First Lady, Sandra Granger today (Thursday, May 25, 2017) charged that young people – the future leaders – must be given opportunities to advance themselves and contribute to the development of the nation.

She expressed those sentiments whilst addressing the National Youth Week Symposium hosted at the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Officers Training Centre, Eve Leary.

According to the First Lady, adults must accept that the torch is already being passed onto the younger generations, and therefore they must be guided and nurtured in order to contribute meaningfully to society.

“The adults, the older generation must accept that the torch is already passing to you, the young people of our beloved Guyana. Therefore, you must be nurtured, guided and encouraged to pursue the path to your own and our country’s development,” she pointed out.

Granger also reflected on the passage of time and underscored the technological and scientific advantages currently available to youth to lead better lives for themselves and the generations to come.

She encouraged the younger generation to take charge of their lives and create a world that upholds the values of equality and acceptance of diversities.

Moreover, the First Lady used the opportunity to acknowledge all those young persons who serve as inspirations including teenage mothers who still successfully graduate from various educational institutions, those who survive domestic abuse and rape, those with various inabilities, those who emerge from poverty, and those in the LGBT community, among others.

Other speakers at the symposium included the Minister within the Ministry of Education, Nicolette Henry along with representatives from the Small Business Bureau, Ministry of Social Protection, Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs, among others.

National Youth Week was launched on May 21 under the theme “Inspiring our Youth, Celebrating their Achievement” and includes a number of activities aimed at empowering and motivating the younger generation.