The government is set to establish its first dedicated youth centre at Deacons Farm, Minister of Youth Charles Griffith announced on Monday.
The minister provided the update on the Deacons Farm facility during a parliamentary debate on the Appropriation Bill in response to a question posed by Neil Rowe, MP for St Michael North West. Griffith confirmed that work on the project is expected to commence during the new financial year.
“Yes, that facility was transferred to the Ministry of Youth,” Griffith told the House appropriations committee. “One of the things we’re looking at is to turn that facility into the first youth centre on the island. So plans [are] in train to see how we can flesh out all of that to ensure that we have a hub at one particular location that will provide an extensive range of training for our young people. I believe it is ideal.”
Griffith noted that repairs would be necessary before the facility could be fully operational. “The condition is we need to do some repairs at the location to bring it back into a prime state, and we’re looking to see how we can cost that.”
Cleviston Hunte, director of youth affairs, elaborated on the project’s scope, describing it as a large complex with significant potential to benefit not only Deacons but also surrounding communities.
“I think we only got the permission to have the centre late last year,” Hunte said. “We did identify a number of areas that we need to work on in relation to rehabilitating the centre.”
He explained that assessments had been conducted in collaboration with architects and engineers to evaluate the structure and provide recommendations for its rehabilitation. “In relation to what is required to actually bring the centre back into a state that the ministry can make the maximum use of it,” he added.
Hunte also highlighted plans for community involvement in shaping programming for the facility. “We are also looking at [going] into the areas to have discussions with the residents of Deacons to also have them have some input in relation to the types of programming that they want to see happening right there within the centre.”
He assured that planning and assessments were ongoing and pledged transparency throughout the process: “So we are at that stage where we are still doing the planning and the assessment, and of course, we will keep you involved and engaged in the process as we go on.”
(FW)
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