Georgetown: The Progressive Youth Organisation of Guyana (PYO) has expressed its concern over a recent announcement by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) that it has entered into a formal arrangement with the Guyana National Youth Council (GNYC) to develop strategic messages aimed at mobilizing youth to vote during the upcoming May 11, 2015 General and Regional Elections.
According to the PYO, the organization “we are also concerned about the manner in which the announcement was made, the process used to select the GNYC, the legitimacy of the GNYC and its mandate as far as representing the interests of Guyanese youth are concerned, the content of the agreement reached and the apparent exclusion of other national and legitimate Youth organizations.
That aside, the PYO is also extremely concerned over the involvement of Mr. Glen Bradbury, Chief of Party (USAID/IRI LEAD Project), and Ms. Julie Sookram, representative of IRI LEAD Project whom we understand represented the GNYC at this meeting with GECOM.”
As a national youth organisation, the PYO condemned the strongest possible terms the exclusion of other independent and political youth organisations from the purported agreement reached.
“The GNYC, in no way speaks for or represents the thousands of youth under the PYO’s membership. As a matter of fact, the GNYC has no authority to conduct any business with GECOM on behalf of Guyanese youth.”
Further, the PYO noted that the Guyana Elections Commission erred in the execution of its mandate when it failed to inform its Commissioners of its intention to utilize the services of the questionable GNYC and when it failed to make public both the minutes and contents of the agreements reached with the GNYC as far as developing messages and strategies to encourage youth to vote.
The PYO also expressed outrage over the involvement and interference of the controversial Leadership and Democracy Project (LEAD) in the domestic affairs of the country. History has shown how projects like these have swayed the outcome of elections in other countries by targeting youths through cosmetic organisations such as GNYC and sending them subtle cues.
Similarly, the PYO believes that the GNYC has deeply rooted political interests and affiliations to opposition groups in our society which are trying desperately to access executive power through dubious means.
