Mindset change, social skills part of government’s plan for youth development- Jagdeo

Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo says that the government is interested in developing the next generation of Guyanese leaders and he believes that a mindset change and cultivating key social skills are crucial in that endeavour.

Scores of young people from Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Berbice) engaged the Vice-President on Sunday during a government outreach held at the Watooka Guest House in Linden.

There, Jagdeo told the gathering that he is interested in developing the next cadre of Guyanese leaders. These new leaders, he said, will be drawn from young people all across the country.

“They’re essential to building the future we want,” Jagdeo underscored.

To create those new leaders, however, the Vice-President said that several interventions must be employed. While he agreed that a focus on sport is crucial to the development of youth, he noted that this should not be the only focus.

“There are a lot of young people who have issues outside of just sports,” the Vice-President reasoned.

And youth development, he contended, “means social skills as well as a particular mindset.”

The Vice-President lamented that some young people may be prone to complaining about issues, but not necessarily working to solve those problems.

As such, he said that young people must also be encouraged to become “solution- oriented”.

Because young people in the region were keen on increasing the focus on youth, the Vice-President said that he will task Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Charles Ramson Jr. with visiting the community and assessing their needs.

Among suggestions offered by young people at the meeting was the establishment of a boxing ring in the community, the use of a new building to host youth meetings, and government’s support of ventures in the arts, such as talent shows and art exhibitions.

Many of them also welcomed the forthcoming multi-purpose sport facility and recreational complex slated for the Region.