Minister of Youth and Culture, Lisa Hanna, has announced that the ministry has made strides in its restructuring efforts with the establishment of the Children's Affairs Division and the building out of the Youth and Adolescents Division.

The minister had articulated in her Sectoral Debate presentation that the ministry would be moving to address the implementation of outstanding policies as well as the development of innovative strategies for youth development and children in need of care and protection.

These strategies will include, among other things, the construction of a model childcare therapeutic facility and the introduction of several new programmes by the National Youth Service (NYS). This new development is the direct response to such a commitment to the country.

The direction aims at greater emphasis on effective management and on the smooth and timely introduction of policies and programmes. Executive Agencies, such as the Child Development Agency (CDA) and the NYS, will now be tasked with the implementation of new and existing programmes under their respective mandates

"These two divisions, with the requisite technical staff, will greatly assist the ministry to address policies relating to the sectors, as well as manage in an efficient way all the disparate issues surrounding children and youths that cut across several other agencies. Previously, there were no existing divisions in any ministry specifically tasked and staffed to address children and youth-policy formulation. That was left on the shoulders of the CDA and the National Centre for Youth Development, respectively," the minister explained.