The riots of January 10, dubbed the “Black Wednesday”, has left a huge imprint, with the Marape-Rosso Government not only calling a Commission of Inquiry into the PNG Royal Constabulary but also summoning heads of departments and government authorities responsible for youth policies and intervention to do something.
One of the instructions was to review the current National Youth Development Authority (NYDA) Act 2014 and align it with current trends and challenges facing Papua New Guinean youths.
The National Youth Development Authority recently concluded the Southern and final regional consultation in Port Moresby.
NYDA Director General, Joe Itaki as the chief adviser said through these consultation workshops, led by the NYDA legal team, they now have a clear glimpse of how and where they can position youth intervention programs, as far as legal frameworks are concerned.
“The challenges we faced today is not the same as in the past,” said Itaki.
Dickson Kiragi from the office of Civil Registry said; “We can talk about youth’s developments in the country but if we do not have responsive comprehensive policies and legislation, we will not progress.”
He said the policies and legislation will always become the impediments to the aspirations of the youths.
“In terms of the legislative review and development, it is critical for NYDA and for those of us who facilitate in the youth space to get it right,” Kiragi said.
The revised Act will ensure provisions that will allow youth service providers and the stakeholders to proactively participate. This will allow the Government to allocate grants for them to implement youth activities in the district and LLG level.
The NYDA’s role is to provide coordination, policy and not implementation.
Itaki acknowledged the representatives of churches, youth service providers and stakeholders for its recommendations to the Act review process.
He said partners are to implement youth’s activities in the country therefore it’s very important they participate in such workshops.
Views and opinions collected from all the stakeholders will be vetted and a draft amended version of NYDA Act 2014 will be table before NEC and Parliament, most likely the beginning of next year.
