Social cohesion ministry taking lead on hinterland youth programme

Valerie Garrido-Lowe

The Ministry of Social Cohesion, which has responsibility for youth, will be taking control of the Hinterland Employment and Youth Service (HEYS) programme, according to Junior Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Valerie Garrido-Lowe.

Although Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Sydney Allicock was reported by the Department of Public Information (DPI) as saying that the HEYS was being replaced with a programme that offers more “holistic training,” Garrido-Lowe, who has direct responsibility for it, said it will not be replaced but would instead be handled by the Ministry of Social Cohesion since youth now falls under its remit.

“HEYS, so far as I know, would not be replaced, at least not yet. As with other youth projects/programmes, it will be under the umbrella of the Ministry of Social Cohesion since youth is now under that ministry,” Garrido-Lowe told Stabroek News.