The Minister has no ‘problems’ but rather challenges and objectives

Mar 13, 2011 Letters

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Dear Editor,
Reference is made to a letter appearing in your edition of Wednesday 9th March 2011, under the caption, “Some problems for Dr. Frank Anthony”. This is over the name of Sunil Singh.
The Minister would be curious about the chosen language of the caption including the word “problems”. He certainly has no “problems” but rather challenges and objectives with respect to his mandate of responsibilities, programmes and policies he execute in pursuit of his Ministry’s work.
Dr. Anthony has no “problems” with giving an account of his stewardship since assuming the leadership of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.
He is committed to responding to genuinely concerned citizens interested in the nation’s youth development, even though he is fully aware that in this “election year” there will be an abundance of “election- oriented” questions, distractions and mischief.
The Ministry is not about to give a detailed response to everything raised by Sunil Singh, not to address the “problems” that should be dealt with, more appropriately, by other Ministries and agencies.
However, out of respect of Mr. Singh’s seeming interest in our youths, an interest that is also at the heart of Minister Anthony’s portfolio – we offer the following information.
Any reputable findings about alcohol use amongst Guyanese youths must ring alarm bells and motivate instant preventative and correctional responses from formal agencies and organisations tasked with the protection and development of our youths.
The Ministry of Youth is sure that the Ministries of Education, Social Services and Health are apprised of the Global School Survey and have factored in appropriate responses.
Mr. Sunil Singh, however, since he seems extremely concerned about our youths, must be aware of the role which the home, family, community, church, school and youth organisations could play in protecting and educating youth Guyanese.
Adolescent misbehaviour is not a matter only “for government”. Whilst any national administration should provide a stable socio-economic environment for human development to be nurtured, the moral and social values for youth must be the responsibility of all adults, including citizens and/or critics such as Mr. Singh. Youth protection and development always attracts a multi faceted, multi-agency response.
In terms of Sports facilities, from the tone of Singh’s question, he does not seem to think that the millions, spent and still being expended, on necessary facilities as the National Stadium, The Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, The National Gymnasium, The New Racquet Centre and Olympic – Size Swimming Pool, the Synthetic Track, and on soft-ball, Table Tennis, Circle Tennis and Cycling Programmes, is money well spent.
Additionally, from the Inter-active Community Sessions, where all ages engage in Healthy Life-Style sports and games, to the collaboration with the Ministry of Education, to the Multi-purpose Courts and Sports Centres being built in all administrative regions, The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports’ outreach is sustained and long-term in nature and intent.
Be reminded too that when millions are spent to fund the new tarmac outside the National Stadium to make it a massive multi-purpose venue and when the National Park Cycling Circuit is upgraded, as was just done, the nation’s youth also benefit.
Any reasonably objective citizen, critic or friend, cannot but laud the Youths and Training Programme (YEST) as implemented over recent years.
The Kuru-Kuru Training Centre (KKTC), The Vryman’s Erven Training Centre/Smythfield Drop-In Centre, the Sophia Training Centre and the New Opportunity Corps (NOC) are now sterling Youth Training and Development facilities where both academic/vocational and correctional programmes are executed to benefit Guyana’s youth of both sexes.
Mr. Sunil Singh may seek the details of these successes over the years from the Ministry itself, as space here is too limited. Since 2000, KKTC has offered more than 12 disciplines, which has turned hundreds of all classes of youth into skilled artisans.
A recent feature even saw apprentice drivers earning drivers’ licences from the Guyana Police Force.
Of interest to Mr. Singh would be the fact that of 2009-2010 graduates, 72% are now gainfully employed in both public and private sectors, with others being self-employed, utilizing the skills acquired at the KKTC residential, ten-month programme.
These successes are mirrored at Onderneeming, NOC, Sophia’s Training Centre and at New Amsterdam.
Statistics are available for anyone’s scrutiny, though figures do not always reflect the welcome changes in the youth self-esteem and status.
The President’s Youth Award, Republic of Guyana has been hailed as one of the Caribbean’s best ever youth development programmes.
Again, we invite Mr. Singh to visit the PYARG’s head office to obtain the history, achievements, and status of one of the Commonwealth’s better administered youth development enterprises ever untaken in Guyana.
The Ministry’s July-August numerous Career Fairs and Youth Camps throughout the country provide practical orientation and choices to guide Guyana’s youth in terms of careers available to them, as well as opportunities to learn more life skills whilst interacting socially and promoting national cohesion.
Some 5000 youths from all the Regions participated in the 2010 camps.
As with the Career Fairs and Camps, there was established a country wide initiative, best described as the “Adolescent/Youth Friendly Community Spaces”.
Actually all regions will be covered by the end of 2011.
The Mission of this project is to ensure that young Guyanese are empowered, through interactive programmes designed to enhance skills and capabilities.
Subsidiary objectives include the building of capacity amongst community leaders and young people as well as access to information and education and services to confront and combat diseases and social ills afflicting the nation’s youth.
This innovative Initiative employs scores of Regional Field Officers, Site Co-ordinators, Peer Educators and PARTNERS to teach and counsel thousands of youths in numerous thematic areas and activities.
Local Clubs, Sports Associations, the GRPA, NAPS, Queen’s University and UG are among The Partners advising on consultants and mentors.
The UNFPA is also lending support to this Initiative which has already touched the lives of youths in Mabaruma, Parika, Vergenoegen, BV, Weldaad, New Amsterdam, Bartica, amongst many other communities.
In terms of crime and violence amongst Guyanese youth, the Ministry of Youth repeats the observation that many agencies must be involved in this (World-wide challenge). The bit about “lack of access to ICT” is being addressed aggressively, not merely through the President’s OLPF programme, but by government’s facilitating international fibre-optic cables to afford much more bandwidth for computer/internet users, even at community level.
Finally, for now, we should not have to mention the Youth Consultations which preceded the fashioning and refinement of the LCDS, but should remind Mr. Sunil Singh that all Campaign Manifestoes are Statement of Intent; projections which shrewd and skilful budgeting will make possible.
However, in the course of any government’s tenure, priorities change, often to meet sudden needs or emergencies. Some original promises are put on hold.
The Ministry feels confident that Sunil Singh will understand these realities. It also feels certain that, whichever his political party of choice, he will also contribute to national youth development, even before the National Youth Policy is revised.
Carl Brandon
Director of Youth

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