RATED programme ain’t something to be proud of — Walwyn
Sixth District Representative Myron Walwyn has criticised the government for taking pride in the RATED programme, which is helping to find temporary jobs for persons who are out of work and offering training opportunities to others.
RATED stands for Registration Apprenticeship Training Employment and Development, and Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley recently announced that the programme, which was launched last year, has benefitted more than 700 persons so far.
But during the recent budget debate, Walwyn argued that, while he was grateful for the programme, it 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 said. “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.”
Walwyn said many of those unemployed persons are from his Sixth District and this was the reason he was able to assemble a team so quickly when it was time to get work done in the area recently.
According to Walwyn, some persons may get money for three months in a year through the programme but may remain jobless for the remaining nine months of the year.
He pressed the government to come up with ways to get more permanent jobs for the unemployed.
“Get a programme together with the private sector involved so that the private sector pays half of the salary, you pay half of the salary,” Walwyn said.
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.
But he said this requires agencies to collaborate, including the local community college, the Labour Department and the Workforce Training Division and he promised to have those partnerships solidified and strengthened.
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TOO MANY WORK-PERMITS ARE BEING ISSUED
Stop issuing permits and watch all the businesses leave. Do you see what has happened with the Trust Companies? Business is expanding but people on the ground being reduced. You better pay attention and stop talking nonsense. Right now there’s more BVI Financial Services related work being done outside the BVI than on the ground and it’s because of stupid short-sighted policies that sounds good on the campaign trail but detrimental to the economy.
Another political slush bucket
I am glad that Myron is back in the House of Assembly. Keep them on their toes.
Honorable Myron. You started by criticising the government. At the end, you realised that Government didnt cause the problem, rather, there are citizens without skills and therefore, unemployable. If you train these folks, the cycle will continue. Why not check to find out why young people grow up to become unskilled and jobless citizens? Is our educational system to blame or the consequences of people’s choices? This is not the time to blame anyone. Getting the government to create jobs will ultimately lead to a failed state. Government has no business creating jobs which are usually not sustainable. Leave that to the private sector. Let there be consequences for persons who are pathologically lazy and unwilling to work. Go for educational models that are skill based, inclusive of apprenticeship. Our Government must create condusive environment and infrastructure that will attract foreign Investments to create jobs. For small scale local businesses, Government needs to grant them employer tax exemption. It is high time we recognised intellectual capital as bankable as applicable in UK. The Government must give automatically guarantee business loans to skilled persons based on business plans supervised by the banks.
arrested and charge over corruption on a government wall
When you were speaker – yes / why don’t you go and arrest him , Collins, rankin and Cindy , that wig has messed up your head , try prayers bro
The Rated Program ìf one was to seriously study it a bit makes no sense,give me the percentage of hire after the rated program and I’m sure the Premier knows this so he needs to stop.I fully agree with Honorable Walwyn.
“The RATED programme is an indication of unemployment in the country.”
But yes we need to stop issuing work permits for cashier jobs. Let the bosses treat the workers right & pay the people what they are worth.
On the other hand rated is the most pay an employer has given me to date per day, with a degree.