By Abena Rockcliffe-Campbell
When the APNU+AFC Government entered office in 2015, the Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sport was made a department of the Ministry of Education. Later, that department was transferred to the Ministry of Social Cohesion, leaving Minister of Social Cohesion George Norton responsible for youth affairs for quite some time now.
But a few months ago, Minister Simona Broomes’ second reassignment in less than five years saw her taking up a newly created post — Minister with Responsibility for Youth Affairs. Broomes now functions under the Ministry of the Presidency.
When Broomes was assigned Minister of Youth Affairs, some saw it as an effort of the administration to “right the wrong” committed when it reduced the Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sport to a department. The government had come under severe criticism for such a move, especially since more than 60 per cent of the voting population are considered youth. Many are of the opinion that youth affairs need serious attention at the policy level.
However, there was never a merger of Broomes’ new department and the previously existing Department of Youth that still functions under the Ministry of Social Cohesion. Further, when Broomes’ new posting was announced, President David Granger said that Norton will continue to function with responsibility for youth.
Now, information reaching Guyana Standard suggests that Broomes is working independently to the Youth Department of the Ministry of Social Cohesion but with very little resources. This media house was told that Broomes is still to meet with officials of the Social Cohesion Ministry. According to sources, the minister is still to get an update on the work that was done in the areas for which she is now responsible. The source opined too that while Broomes has specific responsibilities, it would be prudent for her to understand what the Youth Department has been doing as well as the current work of the department.
Guyana Standard further understands that Broomes does not even have a fully functioning department.
Demerara Waves had reported that Broomes expressed concern in writing about the way she perceives she is being treated. The online news company also reported that Broomes is upset that she has been merely given an office, desk, and chair with no resources to execute her duties.
After the article was published, the Ministry of the Presidency said that Broomes is not being restricted in doing her work in the areas of youth unemployment and training, following a meeting between her and President Granger. In fact, after recent media attention, the government is insisting that Broomes is being fully supported and is functioning in her new position.
Director-General of the Ministry of the Presidency Joseph Harmon went a step further and said that all the youth departments are working together towards one common goal.
On Thursday, this news agency asked Harmon if Broomes is working in tandem with Social Cohesion’s youth department.
Harmon responded, “Broomes is functioning as Minister of Youth with responsibility for [the] training of young people and so on. Her work in that regard is being supported.”
Asked again if the Minister is working independently to the department of youth, Harmon said, “No minister works independently; she is a part of the government system. She was assigned to the Ministry of the Presidency with specific responsibility for what she is doing. There is no disconnect between what the minister is doing and what other divisions and departments within the Ministry of Social Cohesion are doing.”
This media house also queried the functioning of Minister Valarie Yearwood in her new post.
Harmon responded, “Yearwood-Patterson is performing her duties; she was recently at the Guyana School of Agriculture. Her responsibility is for rural affairs. If you want to see more, I will tell her to put more of her activities in the newspaper and online for all to see that the minister is up and about performing her duties as assigned.”
