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Youth Affairs Dept. in dire need of human resources!

The Department of Youth Affairs and Sports is crucial to youth development in the Territory. Photo: VINO
Patrick Harrigan (right) is the Acting Director of the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports. Photo: VINO
Patrick Harrigan (right) is the Acting Director of the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – For the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports to fully carry out its role in moulding the youths, it needs an Assistant Director for Youth Affairs and an Assistant Director for Sports, which the subject Minister is calling to be filled as soon as possible.

Speaking at the Education and Culture Planning meeting that was held recently at Maria's By the Sea, Minister for Education and Culture Hon. Myron Walwyn wants those vacancies filled “so that we can move ahead and tackle the issues facing youth in the Territory.”

“I am not sure how Mr. Patrick Harrigan [Acting Director of Youth Affairs and Sports] has been able to survive for so long as his Department has been on life support for a while without sufficient human resources to allow him to carry on the mandate of that Department,” he added.

According to Minister Walwyn, the young people face serious challenges that must be addressed so that his Ministry can help to prepare them to assume their roles as young adults in society. “Once that department becomes properly staffed at all levels it will be able to address some challenges faced by our youth.”

The re-introduction of the National Youth Council is also a necessary youth advisory committee to Government, the Education Minister stressed, and its development is hinged on the Department’s capacity.

To this end, he is lobbying to have a Youth Council be put in place as quickly as possible, adding that there are young people who are willing and eager to be a part of it.

“As the Youth Unemployment Register showed us, a high percentage of youth are unemployed. This is an issue that can be adequately addressed with a properly staffed Department of Youth Affairs. This Department is vital in assisting our education system in addressing the total needs of our youth and preparing them to enter the next phase of their lives,” he asserted.

14 Responses to “Youth Affairs Dept. in dire need of human resources!”

  • wings (25/04/2012, 08:37) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    tis muss be ah reason why Patrcik acting so long....
  • ausar (25/04/2012, 08:40) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Premier, I know it's an unspoken policy that many in your government strive to remain physically fit and active But when I look at this photo, I cannot but wonder: how come the Director does not appear to be fit and he presides over such an important department such as this.
    • fish (25/04/2012, 12:49) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      man look where ay goe..some of us a big and healthy...leave that alone
  • survuval (25/04/2012, 09:30) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mr. Minister needs to ask how the other staff at the department is surviving with a waste of time for a director.
  • survuval (25/04/2012, 09:34) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    This director is a waste of time Minister. But you already know that before you became minister but you have no intention of dealing with it. You need to find out how the support staff is surviving.
    • Hmmmm (25/04/2012, 10:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      I do not believe this is the best department for him. We are dealing with youths and therefore, your life style becomes an example to them. I really recommend this department be overhauled and restructured for the benefit of the youths in the territory.
  • jerry springer (25/04/2012, 09:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is the problem that the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports have. First, it is the minister who has taken up the mantel of Labor before Education. Many of the youths don't have a proper education and all they think about is money and the Minister with his big EGO has endorse it, MONEY BEFORE EDUCATION. Second, the department has been mismanage for quite a long time and requires an audit of it's funds including the Recreation Trust. Money has been invested in this department that is unaccounted for and there are no answers to where it has all gone. It surely is not the jump rope for heart. Third, there is no Sports and Youth policy in place and when there are no rules in the game, anything goes including cheating but who ever reaches to the finish line first seems to be the winner. If we fail to plan then we definitely plan to fail and this has been a failure of the Ministry of Education for donkey years now and this new Minister is NOT on the right track with it. Pure talk blah blah blah and no substance. So Hon. Walwyn you need to wake up and smell the coffee with our youths because it starts with you and your EGO. These are my thoughts for this topic!
    • Real Talk (25/04/2012, 11:59) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      How can you address labour issues without tackling the problem of education and training? Please explain.
  • Carey (25/04/2012, 10:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    My problem with the DYAS are the following: 1. The acting Director needs to retire because he is not diverse nor prepared enough for such a post. 2. The Government continues to fail to use the experts in this area to better the Department. e.g. NDP hired Robert Chawell and he left. Then there is Devon Osborne who was prepared for the post but instead was put as Press Secretary because of political reasons. Now Walwyn wants to confirm Patrick in the post who have a dull track record for the management of the department and then there is Paul on the Ball who's name is in the air for joining the team but is not properly diverse in youths nor sports with no degree but another potential political move. 3. Third government chooses not to spend money on youth development and facility enhancement and Walwyn choose to give the youths jobs and many can't even read nor right. Conclusion, Government need to use the experts in the area that they have here on the island because they are here and stop pointing fingers because this problem starts in the home of these kids and sports is just one of the avenues that our children have to direct their different talents and government needs to take a more holistic approach to be more innovative, creative, and proactive towards the problem of the youths. Start by choosing a good leader for the children.
  • vinofan (25/04/2012, 12:25) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    That dept needs more than ministers, they need people to answer the phone. Every time you try calling that department the phones ring out, nobody never answers. I think they need to do a whole clean out of that office and hire peeps who can make this department shine.
    • mega (25/04/2012, 13:06) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Well the the Minister to hire a receptionist. After all it was almost 500 youths registered for the Youth Unemployment Register. If he had so care he would have made sure one of them was hired to answer the phones. All he seems interested in is confirming a non performer as Director.
  • VG Massive (25/04/2012, 13:11) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I would like to see Mr. Devon Osborne restructure this department because he promise us on trying to get the branch over here in Virgin Gorda. Of course he did not win but Myron needs to use Devon talents to build that program and put politics aside. Willy Peely is only for the summer but if he is prepared in that area my ndp government need to give him the chance to do it or I will not vote for them again. Mr. Osborne was my PE Teacher and now I have a child in school and suffering because of no after school programs here on VG and that is not good. Virgin Gorda needs ATTENTION NDP!!!!
    • never he (25/04/2012, 23:37) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      willie Pille up and down looking work one time he want to go tourist board the other time he want to go youth affairs... then next election he comes back with he foolishness and want to run struppps
      • VG Massive (26/04/2012, 09:38) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        U sound more like you HATE willie Pille but you need to love yourself before you make such a comment. For u to know all what he doing it seems like u well up in he business but u should mind your own. strupppssssssssssss!


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