Department director Brenda Lettsome-Tye gave that indication when she appeared before the Standing Finance Committee (SFC) late last year.

She said the department needed to fill at least three positions for 2020 and said it would cost the government $112,412. These positions include Senior Programme Officer for Youth and for Sports, as well as Youth Officers.

“The Senior Programme Officer for Youths and the Senior Programne Officer for Sports – formally Assistant Directors – have been vacant since 2016.

“Request for funding was granted in 2018 and request for advertising were made in 2018 and 2019, but the posts were not advertised,” she added.

“There were currently two vacant positions of Programme Officer for Youths. Requests were made for advertisements but the posts had not been advertised. Currently, there are only three of eight technical positions that are filled,” Director Lettsome-Tye told the SFC.

Collapse in overall process

She further said procedural measures were initially followed to fill other vacancies, but they too were not completely fulfilled due to a collapse in the overall process.

It is not clear whether any vacancies have been filled since Lettsome-Tye’s report to the SFC late last year.

The Department of Youth Affairs & Sports is a government organisation that houses empowerment programmes and professional experts that assist youths with developing their talents in the territory.