Sport and Youth Affairs Minister Phillip Watts has ordered an audit into the hiring of contract workers at the Ministry of Youth Development and National Service, which was previously headed by Foster Cummings and the Ministry of Sport.

The minister yesterday confirmed that records show over 60 individuals were hired on short-term contracts in the area of youth development and national service—some with lucrative salaries.

Among them were a former education minister, a former government senator, a temporary senator, a former journalist, and several members of the People’s National Movement (PNM).