Best youth debater, Reg. 3 youth leading youth parliament  

The top youth debater during the recently concluded Speaker’s National Youth Debating Competition, Richard Bhainie alongside outstanding Region Three youth debater, Malika Russell have been elected by their peers to lead the Youth Parliament.

A group of young people drawn from the just concluded debating competition are part of the senior category for the sixth annual Youth Parliament, which is expected to begin on August 12.

On Tuesday, these young parliamentarians were randomly assigned Members of Government and Members of the Opposition. A press release from the parliament’s office noted that in virtual breakout rooms, the two groups were tasked with electing their leaders. Then, Bhainie was elected Leader of the Opposition while Russell was elected Prime Minister.

The young parliamentarians also benefited from a session on drafting motions in the National Assembly, led by the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance and Government Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira.

The press release highlighted that the participants were edified on the types of motions and how to construct them. It was also noted that Minister Teixeira explained the sections of a motion, the Whereas Clauses, and Resolved Clauses, and encouraged the youth parliamentarians to think about the aim of their motions when preparing them and to make them relevant to Guyana.

This session was organised by the Organising Committee at the Parliament Office. The Chairperson for that session was the Parliamentary Executive Officer and Coordinator of Youth Parliament, Carlleta Charles.

Meanwhile, Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir, during his remarks, stressed the importance of the role of the youth members of Parliament and reiterated the seriousness of such a role.