Below is a statement from the Progressive Youth Organisation(PYO) in response to comments made by APNU's James Bond following the organisations condemnation of GECOM's partnership with GNYC:

The Progressive Youth Organisation of Guyana (PYO) wishes to firmly restate its position that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) must formally engage a wide cross section of youth bodies and organisations to develop strategies for mobilizing and encouraging youth to participate in the electoral process on May 11, 2015.

GECOM, if it is interested in its independent image and transparency, cannot afford to enter into piece-meal arrangements with selected groups, which purport to represent the interests of young people, to develop messages that are intended for the entire population of young people who are eligible to vote.

We firmly believe that if GECOM is also seriously interested in boosting its critical voter education programme, it must try harder to put mechanisms in place that will remove suspicions of political bias and covert political interference in its work.

At this point, the PYO wishes to out rightly reject statements attributed to A Partnership for National Unity Executive James Bond which seek to suggest that the PYO and ruling People’s Progressive Party are against the involvement of youth in crafting policies for their participation in the democratic process.

Bonds’ statements are far from the truth and a sordid attempt by desperate youth leaders within the APNU’s fold to achieve cheap political mileage from peddling misleading propaganda.

The PYO has taken note of Bond and the APNU’s vested interest in safeguarding the political agendas of the Guyana National Youth Council which we believe is working on their behalf to craft subtle and partisan messages to be sent to the youth electorate.

We wish to again state categorically that while we welcome the decision by GECOM to engage youth, it must be done in a fair, open, transparent and non-partisan manner.

Additionally, while the PYO can appreciate the fact that the concept of inclusionary democracy, fairness and transparency are foreign to the minds of Bond and the APNU, we will not be sidetracked in our endeavour to ensure that other organisations with legitimate mandates are also formally consulted by GECOM and involved in the crafting of these messages.

In the meantime, Bond, who admitted that he is uncertain about his political future within the opposition ranks following the signing of the controversial Cummingsburgs Accord, could continue to clutch at straws.

The PYO remains committed to its fight for youth development, youth participation in all levels of the democracy, and youth empowerment.

Bond and APNU would be well served addressing the scandalous and explosive statements made by those who have left their folds, and other youth leaders who have been made collateral damage when they axed the monies budgeted for Student Loans for the University of Guyana and further jeopardized the future of youths by undermining the Amaila Falls Project, the Anti-money Laundering Bill and other sweeping initiatives in the Tenth Parliament.

March 5, 2015

extracted from http://www.newguymedia.com