Cleanup through RATED programme to resume soon
The government’s RATED programme will resume with beautification exercises around the territory in the coming weeks.
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley assured the public that the ongoing initiative, which aims to assist jobless individuals through temporary employment and training opportunities, is set to receive more resources soon.
RATED, launched last year, stands for Registration Apprenticeship Training Employment and Development and Premier Wheatley announced that the programme has benefitted over seven hundred persons.
According to the Premier, some persons are currently working in various government departments through the RATED programme.
Dr Wheatley also told reporters at a recent press conference that consultants will arrive soon to help move the programme forward.
“We also have excitingly, some consultants who are coming on board – I have to check and see the date when those consultants will be hired – but excitingly we’re going to be able to expand the offerings to the unemployed persons,” the Premier said. “Things like apprenticeship, things like soft skill training and other types of things.”
Late last year, Sixth District Representative Myron Walwyn criticised the government for taking pride in the RATED programme which he argued was more of a reflection of the high level of joblessness in the territory than anything else.
“The RATED programme is an indication of unemployment in the country, it ain’t nothing to be proud of, because the very structure of the programme is for people who are unemployed,” Walwyn stated. “The more people who are on that programme indicates to you, or should indicate to you, the fact of the people who are unemployed in the country, that’s what it means.”
Premier Wheatley has repeatedly lauded the RATED programme for finding jobs for out-of-work members of the community and has also encouraged the private sector to get more involved.
The Premier also said there is money for training and apprenticeship in the budget, and noted that the goal is to provide persons with opportunities that can help lead them to full-time employment.
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If RATED is for cleanup programs, what is PWD for? You actually need consultants (plural “S”) for a cleanup program? My teacher used to arrange campus cleanups when I was in primary school. Can the consultant money be given to all teachers instead? We will have all the consultants we need.
They don’t need consultants. They just need to pay the workers on time and not have them wait months for their hard earned money. Wasting money on consultants for what is common sense.
Let’s hope that the beautification program is better and longer-lasting than the recent spreading of asphalt on the roads, which was done very poorly and which washed away in the first rains. Whoever authorized such a program should be fired for wasting our money. The roads need fixing, but do it properly!
Stop recycling the same people over and over aka cronies and leaving out the people who you think or know did not vote for the Virgin islands party. You have no intention on changing the script. Step down and let Lorna lead
If we have to hire consultants for everything to move this country forward what the hell we hired you clowns as leaders.for?Lord hear our prayers the BVI is doom under tjis leadership
Please I beg you. Fix the roadss