APNU touts youth fund, guaranteed percentage of oil earnings

Last Updated on Monday, 4 August 2025, 17:51 by Writer

The opposition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) on Sunday night promised to establish a special fund for youth development and a legally guaranteed 10 percent of annual oil revenues for distribution to all households.

The September 1, 2025 election campaign promises were delivered at a public meeting held at Bare Root, East Coast Demerara.

APNU presidential candidate, Aubrey Norton said if supporters turn out in their numbers and vote his political party into office, his administration would establish a special fund for youths, defined by the United Nations as persons 15 to 24 years old. “There is a bright future ahead for the youth of Guyana. We are establishing a national youth fund and the purpose of the fund will be to give young people grants and loans and we will train them to manage small businesses and put them in business,” he said.

He also said “I want to make this pledge” that, in keeping with the law, 25% of all government contracts would be awarded to small contractors after they are trained.

Working People’s Alliance (WPA) co-leader, David Hinds, an academic, as well as a candidate under the APNU umbrella, also told the meeting that APNU administration would pass legislation to guarantee at least 10 percent of Guyana’s oil revenues are transferred to average Guyanese. He said that would allow ordinary people to emerge out of poverty in the best possible manner as they see fit. “We’re going to take 10% of that money and we’re going to set it aside. The 90% the government can do what they want with it and we will build bridges where necessary. We will improve education, we will improve health care,” he said. He added that an APNU government would train doctors and nurses to staff hospitals. At a minimum, he said each household could receive GY$1 million annually.

The incumbent People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) administration has been promising more cash grants should it be re-elected for another five years. No specific figure has been floated.

Dr Hinds also said pay increases owed to teachers and public servants, compared to pay hikes provided to canecutters, would be paid in the form of land allocations, hoping that the WPA would be successful in its lobby. “If you want it in house-lot we give you in house-lot. If you want it to go and farm, we give you to go and farm. If you want it as security, you can go to the bank; you get it,” he said.

He said the PPP was discriminating against Afro-Guyanese by awarding very small contracts to them in contrast to its stronghold. “We in the APNU are saying that we will try to get you out of poverty,” he said.

Mr Norton and Dr Hinds promised that an APNU-led administration would end police extra-judicial killings and corruption. The APNU also intends to lower the cost of living by increasing food production, hike salaries and pensions, distribute various types of cash grants, train persons to become contractors, provide school meals and a national school transportation system.