The Finance ministry's decision to cut $155 million off the budget for the National Youth Service (NYS) has angered the Opposition People's National Party but the Government says it is not a big deal.

The Opposition has called a media briefing for today at which it will voice its concerns but already its Education Spokesman Basil Waite has alleged that at least six NYS youth camps will be closed and approximately 2,000 youngsters displaced.

No reason for alarm

However, Education Minister Andrew Holness, who has responsibility for the NYS, says there is no reason for alarm.

"The present programmes that are being executed by the NYS will continue and, as much as possible, we will ensure that there is no dislocation of students already enrolled," Holness told journalists yesterday.

"It means that the organisation (NYS) will have to become more efficient administratively," Holness added.

He said a corporate review was now taking place at the NYS because of the efficiencies already identified.

"We have seen a case where a member of staff is receiving a travel benefit and the member of staff has no driver's licence and there is no record of a motor car assigned to that member of staff. These are the kinds of inefficiencies that we are trying to weed out," said Holness.

He said he would be telling the nation more on the future direction of the NYS in the coming weeks.

arthur.hall@gleanerjm.com