RATED programme just about ‘cutting bush’ — Mather
Territorial At-Large Representative Stacy ‘Buddha’ Mather has raised questions about the government’s RATED programme which was established to create short-term employment opportunities for persons who are out of work.
“As someone who lives and breathes for all young people, I was very happy to see that the RATED programme has over a million dollars budgeted,” Mather said in the House of Assembly (HOA) recently.
“However, during the committee stages [of the HOA], I was troubled because a lot of the conversations that went down about employment in that programme seems to be cutting bush.”
The first-term lawmaker, who also serves as Deputy Speaker in the House, said while he appreciates that people need jobs, he wanted to challenge elected officials to create programmes that employ young people and create career paths.
According to Mather, there are other things in the country that can give young people a better quality of life and pathway to feeling like they’re included and have hope in the territory.
Mather suggested that young people should be given the assurance that they’re not sitting in a territory where the wealth is only circulated among some and not others.
RATED a band-aid
Meanwhile, Sixth District Representative Myron Walwyn described the programme as a band-aid, arguing that it was an insufficient mechanism for addressing the territory’s employment challenges.
Walwyn said there are major unemployment issues, not just in his Sixth District, but throughout the territory and enough is not being done to address that.
“The RATED programme is there, and in [the HOA’s] committee, I said it’s a good start, but I believe it does not do enough to address the unemployment problem in the country. It’s a band-aid,” Walwyn said. “We need a comprehensive unemployment programme that gives people a fair chance to get their foot into the door, whether it be in the private sector or in the government sector.”
According to Walwyn, the programme only gives persons a six month stint to keep some money in their pocket. He added: “If you don’t get a job by then, you’re back to square one. We need to revisit it.”
Background
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley announced the establishment of the RATED programme in the House of Assembly last November. At the time, he said the programme was formulated to provide services to Belongers in the community who are unemployed and underemployed.
RATED is an acronym which stands for Registration, Apprenticeship, Training, Employment, and Development. The concept is providing individuals with training and apprenticeship opportunities to develop the knowledge skills to become more marketable in the workplace.
It also provides temporary employment opportunities in the public sector for activities like farming and beautification. Dr Wheatley said beneficiaries of the programme will also be provided with opportunities for self-development through life skills courses and access to motivational speakers.
The Premier further explained that the programme is not for persons with regular full-time employment. He said some of the work opportunities under the RATED programme include landscaping, painting curbs, litter collection, bush-cutting, ghut cleaning, construction, carpentry, electrician work, repairs to basketball courts and recreational spaces; and clerical work.
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Cutting bush alone is so degrading for our youths
I swear, people in the BVI does just wait and seek an opportunity to run their mouth. Questions should be asked first. How is cutting bush degrading to youths especially if in a lot of cases they don’t meet the requirements for the jobs that are available or are seeking more money than they are actually worth. Educate yourself about things before making senseless statements.
That’s the best we can do for our youth? Learning how to wield a cutlass isn’t exactly going to lead anyone into a lifelong career.
Do you see any bigshot kids cutting bush along the roadside? H**l no!
a kid cant setup a business and charge the government masses of money to carry out the work across the island. It is not just about the man with a machete.
No you need to educate yourself. What he is saying is correct. The application paper had many options for non-bush cutting work. As a person with a degree I was given the role of machete. Ok but when I looked around there were no females I wondered if they got better placements.
In addition it wasnt for six months only 2 months.
Maybe call it over-rated cause that what it was. A scheme to hire Bush cutters and filing staff to pay them below the reasonable rate for that type of job but to me, this was explained by Sowande before so it is not shocking.
Mr. Mather did not say bush cutting was degrading or not good enough for youth. He said it shouldn’t be the only thing they can do and that programs to route them into other things should be established.
I’ve seen some teenage boys at Nanny Cay who seem to be shadowing people like the landscape employees. This would be a great time to employ some young people to work in the schools cleaning up and preparing the buildings for reopening instead of waiting until school is a week out and then you are vaulting to a one week finish line. There are many things that could be done, but it would actually require thought, maybe even some creativity. It would also be good if it didn’t take long for a paycheck to be promised than the program actually lasted.
This guy is a one termer
A lot of them people cutting bush actually not interested in no long term job or career. They just want a lil quick change in their hand to go right back on the block and try to flip it.
The “E” in that RATED program should have been for EDUCATION. The youths that didn’t finish high school needs to have a path to complete basics in standard education. It should be a requirement. All those fancy words seem to lack substance.
I do believe that Mr Mather is right.
People talking bout who wan be on the block or who want or don’t want a career. that doesn’t matter. At the end of the day they should create the opportunity for the youths and then let them decide. At the end of the day y’all forget that you could only bring the donkey to the well. And half of y’all instead of trying to encourage some of the youths y’all ok saying keep them in positions where they can’t strive. I’ve watched people turn their lives around if given the opportunity. I’m quite sure half of y’all who on here ain’t perfect and had someone somewhere create or help inspire you to create opportunities for yourselves and families. Don’t take the chance as minimal as it might be for someone to make a change In their lives which I turn help us foster better communities. Mr Mather I with you. Tell them stop deh bad mind
Even my boss company try to help and give some of these kids out of high school and college. Some willing to work some aren’t but he gives them the opportunity and that is what we as a people the older people should be doing for the younger ones not damming them when they get caught up in drugs because we left them out in the cold
Even my boss company try to help and give some of these kids out of high school and college. Some willing to work some aren’t but he gives them the opportunity and that is what we as a people the older people should be doing for the younger ones not damming them when they get caught up in drugs because we left them out in the cold