–to reflect changes made and chart way forward, Min. Norton says

THE National Youth Policy will be returning to Cabinet so that it can be updated to reflect changes that have occurred and for a general review, according to Minister of Social Cohesion with responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. George Norton.

This policy was passed by the National Assembly in 2016 with the intention of improving the social, emotional and cultural skills of young people, producing a productive and enterprising youth workforce, developing quality education and market-oriented skills, encouraging leadership, participation and representation and promoting good health, security and safety.

According to Minister Norton, “There are some things that we would need to change, [so] that document that was presented to Parliament is going to go back to Cabinet.”

Recently, the Guyana National Youth Council (GNYC) raised several concerns over the little to no apparent progress made on implementing this policy, particularly through the 2016-2020 National Youth Empowerment Action Plan (NYEAP) which requires a review at the end of the five-year period.

The council also made known that the policy was last attributed to Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry, but the portfolio of youth has since shifted to Minister Norton, whose Ministry falls under the overarching Ministry of the Presidency.

Since the shift of ownership has not been reflected in the policy, the council noted that it becomes difficult for young people to enforce accountability and a statement from the council reads: “Accountability occurs when there is clearly-defined ownership of public documents, decisions, policies, strategies, actions, etc.”

Interim Chairman of the GYNC, Derwayne Wills, also contended: “By virtue of ownership, young people are better positioned to know who owns the implementation of the National Youth Policy through the NYEAP; who owns the review process of the National Youth Policy, which expires in 2020, and by extension, who activates the review process?, [and] when will either the NYEAP or the review process come into being.”

To this end, Minister Norton said: “It is no doubt that the Department of Youth now falls under the Ministry of the Presidency, particularly the Department of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport and I’m in charge of that ministry, so [the policy] would obviously be with me.”

This is not reflected in the current policy, however, and as such, the minister said: “We are in the process of taking back the policy to Cabinet to make some adjustments and to have Cabinet’s input.”

Additionally, the minister posited: “The fact that we’re going to take the whole policy back to Cabinet tells us that nothing there is written in stone and we might need to change what’s there.”

According to the policy itself, “… The National Youth Policy will be periodically reviewed and updated within five years, or earlier if it becomes necessary.”

And Minister Norton has said that it has definitely become necessary for an earlier review of that policy, and related, “We don’t necessarily have to wait till [2020] if we think that there is need for us to do some changes before, which I want to support; we’ll go ahead and do so.”

Weighing in also was Director of Youth, Melissa Carmichael-Haynes who said, “We want the young people to know that it is not a case where the youth policy is not in action; we have had some delays.”

She shared that the policy is “actionised” by the Department of Youth and is used as a guide for the work done by the department.

The director also said while the policy has not been published on the department’s website or made available online, it can be found in the Parliamentary Library. Carmichael-Haynes said this in response to another contention raised by the GNYC- that the policy has not been made public and easily accessible by young people whom it is for.

When questioned if he has engaged the GNYC on reviewing the policy and addressing the concerns raised, Minister Norton said that a meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, December 19 at 10:00 hours. He also highlighted that Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry, will also be present at this meeting.

The GNYC’s interim chairman has confirmed this meeting. The council, in a statement online, also noted: “GNYC is in the process of drafting a number of recommendations to be submitted to the Department of Youth which will ideally assist in the advancement of the National Youth Policy in the best interest of Guyanese youth. GNYC commits to working along with the Department of Youth to ensure this policy is brought to life and will publish these recommendations for public commentary.”