The second section of the survey “Who Can You Trust” and the third section, Promoting Racial Harmony, will be released today and on July 17, 2003, respectively.

ROC said the survey, which is being presented in three press releases, covers a wide range of topics on which young people reveal their hopes, fears and opinions. It constitutes a wake up call for the adult generation in Guyana, ROC said.

All the results will be compiled and published in the ROC Newsletter for distribution at the end of the month.

The survey was prompted by ROC’s concern over the future of the adult world to take views and opinions of young people into account.

ROC in the first section of the release said that young people have to live with the consequences of adult behavior, particularly the negative consequences and therefore need to find ways of making the adult world aware of their preoccupation.

From a selection of positive and negative words to describe Guyana, the most recurring choices some 28 percent were insecure. Depressing 20 percent, backward 17 percent and racist 12 percent.

On crime and violence 63 percent more than any single factor was identified as responsible for feelings of insecurity.

With respect to tensions in society crime and violence was again predominant 38 percent along with discrimination and racism 20 percent.

Among proposals to reduce tensions racial and religious harmony 27 percent figured most prominently followed by better politics and government 21 percent and availability of opportunities 19 percent.

All the questions in that section of the survey were open questions, ROC said.