RESPONDING to suggestions that she is the Government's worst-performing minister, Youth and Culture Minister Lisa Hanna says Jamaicans should be more fair in their judgement.

"That [criticism] is something that all of us politicians go through. Sometimes, you know as media people, that behind the veils there are other things at work," said Hanna on Sunday, in response to questions posed by the Jamaica Observer following a visit to Juvenile wards at the Fort Augusta Adult Correctional Facility in St Andrew.

"But, I would just ask all our well-thinking Jamaicans to recognise that the ministry that I'm in charge of has to do with social policies, and in many instances, social policies illicit emotions because sometimes it's not concrete and steel...," she said.

"I don't mind being graded, but certainly grade me on the objectives that I set out to achieve. And, if you look at the things that I have sent out to the media, the things we set out to achieve, we have achieved them," she said.

Last month, Hanna was the subject of harsh criticism by several groups and individuals over her performance in her first year as minister.

The minister, however, said she is optimistic about the plans that her ministry has going forward. Chief among them, she said, is constructing a suitable facility to house juveniles being held in adult correctional facilities.

"While we embark on what we are doing, I ask Jamaicans to also realise that our children need more love. The time you take to cart a child off to the police station... that child may be having severe depression problems," she said.