Youth minister defends youth development policy

Minister of Youth Charles Griffith has rebuffed criticism from the Barbados Youth Development Council (BYDC) regarding the government’s support for youth and community programmes.

Responding to comments made by BYDC president Caleb Brathwaite, Griffith told Barbados TODAY that his ministry has been actively engaged in community outreach. “Over 170 blocks have been visited thus far by the said block committee, providing opportunities for those youngsters,” he said.

“I was shocked recently when I saw the head of the Barbados Youth Development Council indicating that more should be done by the government to assist people in terms of community and program,” he said. “A simple check here at the ministry would have revealed the same project and the block committee that I spoke about.”

Griffith acknowledged that the ministry might need to improve its communication strategy. “Maybe we need to promote a little more of what we’re doing at the ministry so that John Public is fully aware of the programmes that are available,” he conceded.

The minister’s comments come in the wake of Brathwaite’s criticism of successive governments for failing to implement a national youth policy. The BYDC president had linked this inaction to rising violence among young people, stating: “You have violence among young people, but there’s in fact no national youth policy.”

Addressing these concerns, Griffith gave an assurance that progress was being made on the national youth policy. “The youth policy is coming. It was completed by those who were tasked with completing the youth policy. It will be implemented soon,” he said. He added that certain aspects of the policy were already being put into practice, despite the lack of public announcements.

He dismissed suggestions of animosity between his ministry and the BYDC, attributing any misunderstandings to communication gaps. “It’s just a matter of communication, simply that,” he said.

The minister for youth highlighted recent initiatives, including the reintroduction of the National Youth Awards after a 12-year hiatus. “We’re doing every single thing… to amplify the work that our young people are doing. And where possible, we’re putting programmes in place to assist with that,” he said.

He also pointed to efforts to expand community sports programmes. “We have started a community sports programme to expand the delivery of sports at the community level,” he explained. This includes training for football coaches, with plans to extend support to other sports disciplines.

Griffith insisted the ministry is committed to providing opportunities for all young people, including those on the margins of society. “There’s a basket of deliverables for everyone, for those in mainstream society, for those who are on the block that we’re trying to reintegrate back into mainstream society,” he said.

The minister urged young people to engage with the ministry’s programmes: “For those who are on the blocks, I’m saying to call the ministry and ask for information. The information is out there, 170 blocks, and we’re expanding.”