APNU chides government for poor youth policy

The training programmes for which some ministries have responsibility have been deemed to be ineffective when its impact on the lives of the youths is considered. As such, the political opposition coalition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has not only chided the Government but has now called for an improved youth policy plan and for the reformation of programmes.

Christopher Jones, APNU Parliamentarian

This was outlined by APNU’s Members of Parliament, Christopher Jones and Africo Selman at the coalition’s weekly press conference at its Hadfield Street Headquarters.
Jones told media operatives yesterday that the Partnership is disappointed with the actions of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic administration as it relates to its continued failure to implement a coherent national youth policy. He said that the APNU is of the view that the spate of suicides among adolescents, the rising number of teenage pregnancies, the reports of police brutality, the large number of school dropouts and the predicament of juveniles in the New Opportunity Corps (NOC) are all signs of a deteriorating situation.
The politician explained that the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports over the past few years said that the National Youth Policy would be reviewed. However, this has not been done. Meanwhile the youths continue to face several challenges.
The APNU Member said, “Nearly 7,000 children drop out of our primary and secondary schools every year. The report of the CARICOM Commission on youth development; Eye on the Future…noted that the primary education dropout rate was “at a staggering height.”
“Joblessness among young people in the Caribbean Community at an average of 23 percent is higher than many other developed and developing countries. The majority of young University graduates in Guyana, unable to find employment, are forced to migrate. The National Employment Report published by the International Labour Organization, estimated that based on Guyana’s Household Income and Expenditure Survey which was last undertaken over a decade ago, about 44 percent of the population of working age are not economically active.”
“The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs conducts a multi-million dollar Youth Apprenticeship and Entrepreneur Programme (YAEP). The Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports conducts the Youth Entrepreneurial Skills Training (YEST) Programme.
The Ministry of Home Affairs offers training in what it calls ‘life skills’ under its Citizen Security Programme (CSP). The Ministry of Labour conducts a two-year programme called the National Training Project for Youth Empowerment (NTPYE). Also, Programmes such as the President’s Youth Choice Initiative (PYCI) and the President’s Youth Award Republic of Guyana (PYARG) have all had little impact on youths over the years.”
He emphasized that these programmes have had little progress in solving the problems facing young people. He said too that four out of every ten youth face a jobless future and that the Government is still to announce a plan to deal with this crisis.
Selman in supporting the comments raised by her colleague, then reiterated the Partnership’s call for the Government to implement a comprehensive youth policy plan.