GEORGETOWN, GUYANA – With national elections looming, the youth vote is shaping up to be one of the most decisive factors in who forms the next government. But two sharply different pictures are emerging about the role of young people in politics, and which party is truly capturing their attention.
Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton recently came under scrutiny after the launch of A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU) campaign appeared to draw a crowd made up mostly of older supporters. He quickly pushed back against claims that young people were missing from the event.
“It is true that there were big people and there were mature people… [but] there were a lot of young people there,” Norton said. He explained that many youths remained in their vehicles, fearful of being seen and possibly targeted. “It is true that in society, young people tend not to be involved in the political system as they should…”
APNU’s prime ministerial candidate, Juretha Fernandes, argued that the perception of a youthless movement was false. “I am a living example of how the APNU views youth participation,” she said, promising that the campaign ahead will be “dominated by youths.” Fernandes said the party has no shortage of young supporters, but many are hesitant to be publicly visible due to fear of political victimisation.
But while APNU speaks of hidden support and quiet hesitation, the governing People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is pointing to packed venues, surging membership numbers, and a national youth infrastructure that has been steadily expanding.
The PPP’s Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO) has seen rapid growth, with more than 600 new members from Region Nine and over 900 from Region One. Its youth conferences have drawn thousands, more than 3,000 in Region Six and over 5,000 in Region Three.
PPP General Secretary Dr Bharrat Jagdeo says the energy among young people is unprecedented. “I’ve seen young people come to us with an energy I’ve never seen in my political life,” he told reporters. “And they are of every race, gender and religion.”
The PYO has long served as a training ground for PPP leadership, producing current President Dr Irfaan Ali and Vice President Jagdeo himself.
The difference between the parties’ approach to youth engagement is stark. One party says the support is there, just unseen. The other is putting youth on stages, in conference halls, and into leadership pipelines.
But what’s not up for debate is the power of the youth vote. With more than half of Guyana’s population under 35, young voters may very well determine who wins the next election. And with issues like job creation, education, climate change, and digital access rising on the agenda, youth concerns are becoming central to national debates.
Whether those voters are visible at rallies or organizing in the background, both parties are now under pressure to show not only that young people support them, but that they are willing to give them a real seat at the table.
