While operating under the constraints of a $.5 B budget, in reality approximately $18.4B is allocated for youth development through the sectors of Education, Health and Housing and Water. During 2002 the Ministry received a 100 per cent increase in its budgetary allocation.

Skills Training /youth development
The Ministry has for the third year been able to successfully engineer residential and non-residential skills training programmes for young persons between the ages 14 to 25 years. Youths from each administrative Region were allowed to be part of these programmes. This was part of the Ministry’s plan to provide developmental opportunities for youths across the country.

Young persons in the skills training programmes were exposed to carpentry, electrical installation, information technology and masonry. They were provided with a stipend and work attachments at various organisations. During 2002 a number of institutions helped to facilitate this process. The Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED) played this year a vital role in providing physical support for graduates of the programme.

These programmes are conducted through the Kuru Kuru Skills Training Programme on the Linden Soesdyke Highway, the Sophia Skills Training and The New Opportunity Corps at Underneeming, Essequibo.

Graduation exercises were conducted for all these programmes for 2002 and new batches were taken in for the new period 2002- 2003.

The President's Youth Award: Republic of Guyana programme (PYARG) has also recorded a relatively successful year. This programme, operating with the general objective of widening the knowledge base and practical skills of youths across the country, has been able to involve over 5000 youths to date. These programmes have benefited youths of all races, religion, sex, political affiliation or mental ability.

During the month of October approximately 250 persons graduated from the PYARG. They have also successfully conducted expeditions to Shell Beach where a study of the giant leatherback turtle was conducted by youths on the expedition. They also planted buoys and “no fishing” and “no netting” zones signs.

Other expeditions were undertaken to Lethem, Essequibo and Bartica. Youths also participated in the Caribbean Award Scheme Council 2002 in Barbados. The PYARG completed their first magazine 'Trail Talk' during 2002. Under the PYARG the new National Advisory Council was commissioned and Help and Shelter received assistance through their community service programme.

The President's Youth Award Republic of Guyana launched its 'Youth at Risk' programme, the first of such a nature in the Ministry with the assistance of the Organisation of American States (OAS).

Other significant achievements of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport are the selection of the 2002 youth ambassador to Guyana Martin De Souza. The National Youth Commission was established to assist the Minister to plan comprehensive programmes to assist in the development of youths across the country.

Through their annual summer camp programme, 44 camps were held across the country providing opportunities for skills training in the areas of music, drama, sports, culture and heritage, craft and hygiene. These camps were conducted in all ten administrative Regions.

Another accomplishment was the first Commonwealth Diploma in Youth Development at the University of Guyana (UG) facilitated by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.

Culture
One of the most significant cultural highlights and challenge for the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport is the annual Mashramani celebrations.

Operating under the theme "Colourful and True in 2002", a significant number of Regions were part of the celebrations and held their own celebration activities for the period in their respective Regions. A number of Ministers visited the Regions as part of the national 'fanning out' plan for the flag raising ceremony in the Regions.

For Mash celebrations, the Ministry successfully pulled off the Calypso competitions, with a first time competition for youths which was held on the night of the finals at the Blairmont Community Centre Ground. The Road March competitions, the Children's Costume competition, the steel pan competitions and the decorated/illuminated buildings competition

The Ministry has also held a national Indentureship Exhibition, a 1763 Exhibition, and Emancipation Exhibition as well as a National Museum Exhibition. The majority of these were held Regionally as part of the Ministry's initiatives to reach out with its programmes.

As part of the UNESCO community project, research on the Parishana culture in Lethem was funded and executed during Amerindian Heritage month. The Ministry launched a research and documentation programme under the theme "preservation and revitalization of community art forms" where the Amerindian, African East Indian and Portuguese cultures will be examined.

The Ministry has completed over 50 percent of the rehabilitation work on the Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology, with an $18.9M donation from the European Union (EU) work will be completed shortly.

The Ministry launched its 2003 Mash celebrations under the theme "United are we in Mash 2003" at the Umana Yana.

Sport
In the areas of sport there have also been some considerable achievements. Guyana hosted the West Indian Women Cricket Tournament, a tournament revived after approximately 20 years and the under-15 cricket tournament. Our young cricketers were also able to go on an exchange trip to England.

The Ministry organized a Hinterland Football Competition in Regions One and Eight. They have also been able to facilitate placement for the Rupununi football team to compete in the annual Kashif and Shanghai Tournament 2002.

Workshops, "Empowering women in Sport" and sessions for coaches, sport administrators and regional sports officials were organized. A number of activities and visits for World Boxing Association Champion, Andrew "Six Heads" Lewis, World Cruiserweight Champion, Wayne "Big Truck" Braithwaite, World Super Lightweight Champion, Vivian "Vicious" Harris and Alian Pompey, Commonwealth Gold medallist in the 400 meters. An appreciation ceremony was held for the Busta International Shield Squad.

Director of Sport Neil Kumar feels that the success of Sport in Guyana is not only hinged on the operations of the National Sports Commission, but on the effective working of sub-committees and administrative groups in the various Regions.