Ministry Looks to Free-Up Resources for Youth Programmes

KINGSTON —Youth and Culture Minister, Hon. Lisa Hanna, has given her Ministry’s commitment to make more resources available for youth-centered programmes island-wide.

Addressing students at Campion College in St. Andrew on Thursday (Mar. 1), as part of her weekly Youth Forum series, she explained that the intent is to streamline programmes, which will free-up resources for other areas.

“It’ s a more strategic approach in terms of (for example) merging some of the National Centre for Youth Development (NCYD) programmes with the National Youth Service (NYS), because the NYS has more of a budget for training,” she said.

Meanwhile, Ms. Hanna has also given an undertaking to take steps to enhance the work of youth clubs and organisations.  

These, she said, include: students and youth councils, cadets, scouts and brownies “those things that are important to (youth) development…because education is one thing; but I firmly believe that (those) other things go into really forming a young person”.

Ms. Hanna said statistics show that approximately 75 per cent of crimes committed are carried out by persons under 30 years old. Further, that some 74 per cent of youngsters leaving high schools, are unskilled.

In light of this, she said it is imperative that enhancement of the extracurricular programmes be effectively addressed to ensure the nation’s continued progress.

By Douglas McIntosh, JIS Reporter