President Irfaan Ali
Surrounded by scores of young people, the Head of State emphasised that leaders must not tout the inclusion of youth without engaging in any meaningful efforts to actually do so.
And he was keen on noting that this body will not be a political one, but it will be expected to work closely with policy-makers at all levels of government.
“… this composition is not a political composition, it is a national composition.
“They’re here because I strongly believe that we need young people to be critically integrated into the policy-making aspect of the country,” the Head of State said.
Dr. Josh Kanhai, a young politician who has been associated with two of the smaller political parties in Guyana, is serving as the Chairman of the council.
Dr. Josh KanhaiHe told the gathering that the council will work towards meaningfully representing the country’s youth, guaranteeing that the goals and ambitions of all young Guyanese are achieved.
The council will be expanded in the coming months when more young people across the country will be recruited. Importantly, more than 50 per cent of the existing council members are young women.
Other well-known individuals who are part of this council are cricketer and businessman Leon Johnson, dentist Ian Jagan, lawyer and former People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) member Thandi McAllister, Lawyer and Treasurer of the Bar Association Keoma Griffith, young squash player Kirsten Gomes, Marine Scientist Maria Fraser, among others.
