The visits began at the Beach Camp facility in Palo Seco, where Minister Watts examined several of the bungalows that had been refurbished under the previous Ministry of Youth Development and National Service. The Minister noted with concern that ‘these facilities are overgrown with bushes and invaded by bats, and in need of maintenance. The refurbishment of the Beach Camp facility was costed at $13M, with a 55% completion to date, invoiced at $7.3M. Minister Watts gave a firm commitment to ensuring that the Project Management Unit of the MSYA brings all refurbishment works to completion.
The Minister, accompanied by the Permanent Secretary, Beverly Reid-Samuel, and a team from the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs (MSYA), then visited the Palo Seco Youth Development Centre (YDC) and indicated that the completed Facility needs to be repurposed to better facilitate programmes under the Ministry.
Watts continued at the Los Bajos Youth Facility, which he noted is satisfactorily completed and can soon be opened to the Community. The Minister then visited the Point Fortin Youth Development Centre, where he questioned the state of readiness of the facility to provide training for youths within the area. The Minister was advised that minimal works is required to ensure that the facility is opened and programmes can be offered accordingly.
Minister Watts concluded the visits at the Chatham Youth Development and Apprenticeship Centre (YDAC), and expressed his astonishment at the state of the dormitories and other structures that were deemed refurbished, however appeared to be in need of restoration.
In an interview that followed, the Sport and Youth Affairs Minister stated ‘the Chatham facility is one that we would have spent $19M on, and has a $10M variation. Actual works completed against the work paid for is out of line.’
Watts continued ‘70% of the work was completed and we would have paid out 100% on the project. These are things we have to delve down into and investigate.’ Minister Watts ended the interview, driving home the point that ‘the Prime Minister has placed faith in me to steer the ship in this Ministry and we will get it done.’
Minister Watts further lamented that what he saw was an abuse of taxpayers’ money and indicated his intention to have these projects audited.
