‘Mentor them’ – Bentham

Mr. Ivan Bentham, Executive Director (ED) of the President’s Youth Award – Republic of
Guyana (PYARG) programme, wants sustained transmission of knowledge, social capital, and
psychosocial support for the nation’s young to help them fulfil their ambitions.
Bentham, on his maiden outreach since his appointment as the ED of the PYARG scheme in August, is
peeved that in the recent past issues connected to the youth sector have not been given the priority they
deserved, especially in the mineral rich but impoverished community of Linden, nestled in the Upper
Demerara -Berbice (Region Ten) area.
This Region, a traditional bulwark of the opposition A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance
For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition, touches Essequibo Islands-West Demerara (Region Three);
Demerara-Mahaica (Region Four) and Mahaica-Berbice (Region Five) to its north. It also shares border
with East Berbice-Corentyne (Region Six) to its east and Cuyuni-Mazaruni (Region Seven) and Potaro-
Siparuni (Region Eight) to its west.
When he met with Region Ten youths at the Watooka Guest House this week, Bentham promised that
the governing Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) coalition government will re-energise the PYARG
scheme to transform it into a fully-fledged dream-accomplisher.
“My passion has always been to work with young people and I am honoured to have this
opportunity of being able to work with you and other young people throughout this country. I am
here to offer young people an opportunity to pursue their dreams as well through this
programme,” Bentham told attendees.

With better streamlining Bentham said participants in PYARG will have the benefit of sustained
tutelage from more experienced members of the society. This he observed was not maximised in
the past.
“Young people over the years have not been mentored properly. When we roll out the
programme in 2021 it will address this flaw and other very important issues. I see a lot of

activism on social media but I haven’t seen the kind of work that you expect with regards to
youth development. There are many people whose only work takes place on social media but
nowhere else,” he observed.
He is disappointed that many youths fail to discern opportunities for self-advancement while
other only complain and display ingratitude.
“There are some people who are quick to say that they don’t get opportunities, but when you
provide those opportunities, they are quick to turn around and bite your hands,” he said.
Bentham advised Region Ten youths to stop looking in the rearview mirror and explore novel
ways to help beat the numerous challenges hindering their personal development. He challenged
them to reinvest in the programme to guarantee sustenance for future generations.
“I am speaking with emotions as well…we see people coming for the opportunities (and) get the
experience, but while they benefit, they don’t want to make the programme better,” Bentham
complained.

“I implore us to recommit and work as a team,” the senior PYARG executive stressed.
Bentham noted that PYARG was conceived to help inspire and guide young people to fulfil their
ambitions. In their quest, Bentham said, the scheme will back their business and other ventures
pursued to ensure they contribute positively to national development.
“We have to move away from the backbiting and divisive culture and embrace trust. If we don’t
work together and trust each other we will go nowhere,” Bentham counselled.
The popular youth-focused scheme has some 1.2 billion adherents globally.
“This programme was started by one guy. One person can begin change, so you can change
your community, village, environment,” Bentham urged Region Ten youths.