The Honourable Olivia Grange, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, spoke of the partnership when she addressed the Opening Ceremony of the We Transform Youth Empowerment and Reintegration Programme Competition and Expo at the headquarters of the Girl Guides Association this morning. The We Transform Youth Empowerment and Reintegration Programme is run by the Ministry of National Security and was established to provide children between 12 and 17 years in correctional institutions “with the skills sets, character and support to become productive citizens.” Minister Grange said, “In the partnership the Ministry of National Security and the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) will sign a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) under which the JCDC will unearth, train, expose and develop the various talents of young people in the correctional institutions.” She said that with the direction from the JCDC such talent, including boys and girls, could be honed to participate in the 2018 Independence celebrations. The Sport Minister said the Ministry would also work with the Ministry of National Security to upgrade sports infrastructure at the correctional institutions. “I am putting my money where my mouth is,” Minister Grange told State Minister for National Security, Senator Pearnel Charles, who established The We Transform Youth Empowerment and Reintegration Programme in 2016. “In the same way that the Ministry has embarked on a programme to develop sport infrastructure in communities and in schools, we will see to the funding for the upgrade of sport facilities in the correctional institutions.” Minister Grange said she was pleased to endorse The We Transform programme and to align the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport as well as the Jamaica 55 Secretariat to its successful implementation. She was conducted on a tour by Minister Charles of the exhibition of items produced by the wards competing in the Expo. On display were items of clothing, art and craft, jewelry and food.

-END-