Teen genius advises president
2000-10-24 11:58
Guatemala City - A 13-year-old boy serves as an advisor to Guatemalan President
Alfonso Portillo on youth issues such as education and the
environment, an administration spokesperson confirmed on Monday.
"Yes, Samuel (Esteban Gomez) has met with the president, has
participated in cabinet meetings," said the spokesperson, who wished
to remain anonymous.
The official said that before being tapped as an official advisor,
the youth had participated in various political activities
including, "President for a day" and "Congressional president for a
day", two year-end events sponsored by the National Council for
Youth.
Samuel was described on Monday by a local newspaper as a prodigy and a
genius who takes advanced courses in mathematics at a local
university to prepare for a course of study in aeronautical
engineering.
The boy's future is seen as so stellar, in terms of his potential
scientific achievement, that his academic endeavours are being
closely monitored by the US space agency NASA, the newspaper
reported.
"I am a presidential advisor to represent the youth," Gomez
explained of his unpaid role in government.
The prodigal youngster has already engaged in international
diplomacy, having met US President Bill Clinton when he visited
here in April 1999. He has also had a visit with Prince Felipe, the
heir to the Spanish Crown, and has spent time with former
Guatemalan president Alvaro Arzu, who left office this year.
Samuel explained his main role was to encourage scholastic
co-operatives and internships through the Ministry of Education,
which would allow students to ply their trades commercially while
in school to help offset the cost of their education.
- Sapa-AFP
- SAPA