Youth Minister visits site of demolished Banjul Youth Centre

By Sailu Bah Mr. Alieu K Jammeh, the Minister of Youth and Sports, and a delegation from the Banjul Youth Committee (BYC), on Thursday, 9 April 2015, visited the empty space at the site of the former Youth Centre in Banjul which has been demolished.Explaining the purpose of the visit, BYC Chairman Sulayman Bah said it is for the minister to see how government can intervene to rebuild the facility which is the only centre in the capital city meant to serve young people. He underscored the importance of having such a facility in place as it will help young people to engage in organising and participating in a variety of indoor cultural, sporting and educational activities that would keep them preoccupied. “The Youth Centre in Banjul was a hub before where young people used to go and engage in many activities, but since the demolition of the building some years ago there is no place young people in Banjul can go to for certain extra curricular activities,” disclosed the BYC Chair. “It is vital to revitalize the Youth Centre for young people to benefit from,” said Minister Jammeh. The youth and sports minister further suggested that the BYC should meet with the mayor of Banjul to discuss the revitalization of the Centre, which he said, can be included in the Community, Livelihood and Infrastructural Project (CLIP). Mr. Jammeh said his ministry has given funds to other regions to help them to accomplish some of their youth related projects and now it is left with Banjul. The youth and sports minister promised that his ministry will be providing funds to the youth committee but that the amount is yet to be determined. Mr. Martin Campbell, an architect who was also present, said the youth centre can be built as a facility that could generate funds and create employment opportunities for young people. The Youth and Sports Minister, who was on a tour, also visited the new Youth office provided by the Banjul City Council at Lasso Wharf. He was accompanied by the deputy permanent secretary of the youth and sports ministry, Madam Mariama Njie.]]>