Former executive member of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), attorney-at-law Thandi McAllister, has revealed that the party neglected youth during its time in office, despite campaigning on promises of youth inclusion.
Speaking on the Starting Point podcast, McAllister expressed her disappointment at the sidelining of young people in governance, highlighting a disconnect between the party’s campaign rhetoric and its actions.
“At some point between 2015 and 2017, there was a feeling of the lack of inclusion of the youth,” she stated. “The party campaigned on the importance of the youth vote and the youth voice, yet we felt this non-inclusion.”
During her tenure with the party, young members advocated for greater involvement at both party and national levels, but their efforts often went unheard. “We were advocating for a greater inclusion of young people in governance, but we felt that we were not being heard,” she lamented.
McAllister struggled with her loyalty to the party versus her disappointment in its actions. She believes the PNCR failed to retain talented young individuals, saying, “I don’t think the party did enough to keep the bright minds it had then.”
Commenting on former President David Granger’s recent remarks urging young voters to reject “empty promises,” McAllister noted that his words would carry more weight had he demonstrated genuine commitment to youth empowerment during his presidency. “Regrettably, he did not. What we saw was a geriatric movement,” she said.
She reflected on the parallels between Granger’s current struggle for relevance and the challenges young members faced under his leadership. “It is that movement that has him where he is now—out of office, fighting for a voice, just as we fought to be heard while he was at the helm.”
McAllister described her decision to leave the party as painful yet necessary, calling it a heartbreaking experience.
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