Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport criticized for lack of plan to empower Guyana’s youth

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr, has come under fire for his lack of a comprehensive plan for youth development in Guyana. Despite criticizing the opposition for their poor management of synthetic track projects in Regions Six and Ten, the minister has failed to share a vision or plan for the growth and engagement of youth in the country through recreational facilities and sports programs.

During a recent National Assembly session, Minister Ramson drew attention to the $320 million Berbice synthetic track at Burnham Park in New Amsterdam, and the $179 million project at the Bayroc Community Centre Ground, Wismar, Linden, Region Ten, for which the contracts were signed in October 2018. The minister reported that while each project was estimated to be completed within six months, works on the tracks dragged on, with then Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr George Norton assuring Guyanese that the project would soon be completed.  However, opposition parliamentarian Amanza Walton Desir in her budget presentation reported that to date, the Linden track is still incomplete.

Despite the valuable time spent on criticising the opposition, Minister Ramson has yet to present a comprehensive plan for the development and empowerment of the youth in Guyana. Many are calling on the minister to prioritize the needs of the country’s young people and to present a clear and actionable plan for their growth and engagement.