by WADE GIBBONS

THE BARBADOS YOUTH SERVICE (BYS) has lost its way.

That was the charge yesterday of Opposition Leader David Thompson, during the weekly lunchtime lecture at the Democratic Labour Party's (DLP) George Street, St Michael headquarters.

Thompson said the original purpose of the BYS, started by the DLP in 1991, was to build character in young people and to help them make choices in life. He added the programme was not designed to be just another educational institution.

"If the children wanted to go and study, they were free to do so as well. But it was designed to give them survival skills," he said.

Thompson added: "The purpose of the Youth Service was for the young people to do for themselves. But over time, all that has happened in the Youth Service is that it has become like any other institution of Government where the expenditure has skyrocketed out of control."

The DLP leader said that the Youth Service should not simply be for school dropouts, but should have an intake of young people who had done well in school and those who hadn't. He noted the interaction would benefit both groups.

"In the past there were people with 'O' levels and CXCs in the programme, but who needed to improve on their communication skills, and needed help in making decisions, or had gone off the right pathway and needed assistance," he said.

Thompson added that the BYS was hiring staff to do jobs which the young people should be doing for themselves as part of their development.

He said that when the programme was originally at Grazettes Community Centre, he felt that if the youngsters were using the premises then the responsibility for cleaning it was theirs. He suggested there was no need to hire porters to do jobs which the youngsters could do.

Stressing the need for a revamping of the service, the St John MP said unemployed and other young people who wanted to develop certain skills, should still be encouraged to join the service.

He also underscored the need for job training for young recruits and suggested that employers who hired them could perhaps benefit from tax rebates.

wadegibbons@nationnews.com