Some young remigrants believe that there is no system in place to enable them to meaningfully contribute to Guyana, A New and United Guyana (ANUG) forum for youth heard on Sunday evening.
“Why is it so difficult for people who want to come back and help their country? Why can’t they just do that?” remigrant Megan Vieira asked at the forum, which was held at Parc Rayne, Houston.
The event was the first of a series of countrywide youth forums ANUG has planned. The new party said the forums would give youths the opportunity to “discuss the future of your country.”
Vieira said she returned to Guyana after much introspection as she felt she was giving all her talents to develop another country while her homeland suffered.
“I don’t know where my opportunities are. I haven’t found a way to come back and share what I have learned. That has been my biggest problem; I don’t know where to go and what to do or how to start,” she said.
She believes that there ought to be guidelines for persons in the diaspora interested in returning as there are many, not only older persons but those 35 years and under, who would love to return here to work.
Another remigrant, Yannick David, also lamented that they are often met with lots of red tape when they attempt to set up small businesses.
“There is opportunity for millions to be made here, oil aside, and we need to have things where people born here are comfortable to return…. I feel like that the red tape we have to go through is very discouraging. I kept going only because I had a support system here,” David added.
For David, the red tape that remigrants face could be overwhelming and he thinks that it is a barrier to a lot of potential investment opportunities.
He believes that if measures are put in place for a support system for the diaspora, where they could be guided on documentation requirements for opening businesses or forming organisations, government would see an increase in the number of remigrants or diaspora help. “Even though things may seem difficult, we can do it. If we can get the same support from the people in power, Guyana would be a better place,” he said.
Pointing out that youths currently make up the highest percentage of voters, David said politicians should understand that the current generation are not willing to accept racial politics of old and as a result should plan policies to foster cohesiveness. “Some persons then were willing to just vote for party and those parties did nothing for them or the country. We [youth] question that,” he said.
“Majority of the parents today are stuck on who they are voting for, but if you can get in and ask questions, get them to see… the possibility exists they would start something better,” he added.
ANUG co-founder and Steering Committee member Senior Counsel Ralph Ramkarran pointed out that Guyana’s political system has to change as politicians for too long have used race to divide and in the process stagnate the growth of the country, for their own gratification.
“When the PNC is in power, Indians don’t believe they have a share in the society. When the PPP is in power, Afro Guyanese, particularly Afro-Guyanese youth, feel the exact way the Indians feel. Why must this be so? Fundamentally the political system has to change to end this division. Our generation, the one before mine, those up to now, have been suffering in it,” he said.
He repeated the party’s position on youth, saying that ANUG will give youth the voice they want and changes they strive for.
Another co-founder, Timothy Jonas, told the youths that ANUG stands as a party with members not wanting personal benefits but to see Guyana reach her true potential with leaders of integrity.
He said that many may say the party is elitist judging by its membership and they do not know that they would have experienced similar struggles. “You see someone now standing up in front of you but you have no clue what someone had growing up …we are all coming from humble backgrounds,” he said.
Jonas shared his experiences growing up without basic amenities and having to fetch buckets of water for his home’s domestic use. He said that it is those humble beginnings and many other experiences that have seen him appreciate persons from every strata. “Many persons see Tim Jonas the lawyer, driving a fancy car—and thank God I can now—but I did not grow up in this lifestyle. My mom was a nurse then turned a lecturer and my father a teacher…I know about catching the bus when I started working,” he said.
ANUG has said that it will give youths a platform to design policies to meet their needs.
“While our flagship issue is inclusive executive power, A New and United Guyana is not a one-dimensional party. From the goodwill we have received since stating our intention to form a party, we have learnt that the coalition government has disappointed significant numbers of persons in many other ways. For example, young people have been excluded from jobs and from decision-making,” the party said in a statement.
“Policies for skills development, education and employment opportunities have been promised by both parties now and in the past. These promises have not been fulfilled or have been totally inadequate or have simply not worked. Our party will pay special attention and develop a special relationship with our youths to whom the nation has a special responsibility to prepare for the future. Proposals for youth development will be developed by youth themselves, will be nationally publicised, nationally debated and implemented in the full glare of national attention,” it added.
