PPP Youth Arm Targets Significant Membership Growth Nationwide, Eyes 900 New Members in Region 1
The Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO), the youth arm of the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP), is actively working to expand its membership across Guyana, with a strong focus on engaging young people from various regions. This effort is part of a broader strategy to build a robust future leadership for the party.
The PYO is currently hosting a series of youth camps throughout the country, attracting a substantial turnout of young participants. The most recent camp took place on Friday at Diamond on the East Bank of Demerara, where a large number of youths gathered to participate. Earlier in the week, a similar event was held at Enterprise, East Coast Demerara (ECD), further demonstrating the organization’s commitment to youth engagement.
A major focus of the PPP youth arm is Region One (Barima-Waini), where the party aims to increase its youth membership by at least 900 members. Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, the PPP General Secretary, highlighted this goal during a youth camp in the Moruca Sub-District of Region One, where he reported that over 300 youths from the area had already joined the PYO. This number is expected to rise as additional camps are held in the Matakai sub-district next Thursday and in Mabaruma the following day.
“So, we anticipate about 900 young people from Region One [to join the PYO] … about 300 from each sub-district. Maybe Matakai would have a little less but Mabaruma would have more, and not all of them – the members – would get to come to the meetings because it’s a representative group. We can’t bring everyone out from the villages,” Dr. Jagdeo explained during his weekly press conference on Thursday at the party’s Freedom House head office on Robb Street in Georgetown.
This regional membership drive is part of a larger national effort, with similar initiatives planned across all regions of the country. Just last week, Dr. Jagdeo informed reporters that the PYO had gained over 600 new members from Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and several hundred more from Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).
“These are kids from every community and from every race… Our party is the only multi-racial party in this country and the largest Amerindian party too because we have a massive amount of members who are Amerindians. The last congress, one-third of the delegates were Amerindians who came to the [PPP’s] Congress. We have in our leadership, a number of Amerindians,” Dr. Jagdeo stated, emphasizing the party’s inclusive approach and its significant support among Amerindian communities.
In addition to expanding its membership, the PPP is focused on preparing these young members for future leadership roles both within the party and on a national scale. Dr. Jagdeo reiterated this during the recent press conference, noting that the party is committed to nurturing its next generation of leaders.
“At the last Delegates Congress when I spoke, I said by the time we have our next congress, we will have a 5000-strong youth movement all in line with preparing the next generation of PPP leaders who will emerge in the next, maybe, 10 years or so as the leadership of this party and the country. And we are working to prepare them,” the General Secretary stated.
The PPP’s most recent Congress, held in May of this year, reflected this focus on youth, with several new and young members being elected to the party’s 40-member Central Committee. As the PYO continues its membership expansion efforts, it is clear that the organization is laying the groundwork for the future of the PPP, ensuring a strong, diverse, and capable leadership for years to come.
Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, a visionary leader, is deeply committed to empowering the youth of Guyana to play a pivotal role in the country’s economic development. By equipping young Guyanese with the necessary skills and knowledge, Dr. Jagdeo ensures they are prepared to take on significant responsibilities and actively participate in the progress being driven by the PPP government.
Dr Jagdeo’s leadership is characterized by a strong focus on youth engagement, recognizing that their involvement is crucial for the nation’s future. Dr. Jagdeo’s efforts reflect his profound care for the Guyanese people as he strives to cultivate a new generation of leaders who will drive the country’s economic growth and ensure sustainable development for all.