RATED programme more about bush-cutting than job creation?
Territorial At-Large Representative Stacy ‘Buddha’ Mather has raised concerns about the government’s RATED programme, describing it as more focused on bush-cutting than meaningful job creation.
During the budget debate in the House of Assembly, Mather questioned the programme’s effectiveness in creating long-term opportunities for the youth.
The RATED Programme, introduced to tackle unemployment and beautify the territory, has two components: landscaping and apprenticeship.
However, Mather suggested that the programme was falling short of its potential. He noted that more creative solutions were needed to address employment challenges, particularly for young people interested in non-academic paths.
According to Mather, some 233 young people were employed in the RATED programme. However, he was surprised that only a few were engaged in apprenticeship. “Apprenticeship sounds good. Would you believe of the 233 individuals, 19 of them, a whopping 19, were assigned to apprenticeship programmes?” Mather asked.
Little skills training?
He revealed that most participants were engaged in bush-cutting rather than gaining valuable skills for sustainable careers.
“The RATED programme, looking to me, like the majority of it is not apprenticeship. Cutting bush! We’re not training them to landscape. We’re not training the individuals to replant. We’re not planting lemongrass on the side, mango tree,” Mather said.
“Go cut the bush. Let the bush grow back and cut the bush,” he remarked, adding that the cycle does little to prepare young people for meaningful employment.
Mather expressed disappointment in the resources allocated to the programme, pointing out that a significant $2.03 million would have been spent by the end of 2024. He questioned how much of that was dedicated to the small number of apprenticeships.
“We’re not taking some of our young people out, teaching them excavation with heavy equipment,” he said, suggesting that the funds could be better utilised in offering technical and vocational training.
Overlapping of responsibilities
Mather also criticised the overlap in responsibilities between government departments, referencing the $500,000 given to the Tourist Board for beautification efforts. “Tourist Board cutting bush too. Who else is cutting bush? By the end of next year, we all cutting bush,” he remarked.
Mather called for innovation and collaboration to address the Virgin Islands’ pressing needs. He encouraged the government to examine how other Caribbean nations manage similar challenges.
“Can we not find another country in the Caribbean with the same climate and the same problems to figure out how they’re dealing with their bush?” he asked.
Gov’t to help RATED participants build careers, says Premier
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Basically the rated programme produces nothing. No uplifting whatsoever just a bunch of greedy polishitcian fattening them pockets and holding the people down.
They not even cutting bush right. They don’t stop for cars and chipping people windshield
yes this is true they need to be trained, sometime back a guy cutting the bush at the side of the road did not pause cutting when a relative of mine vehicle was passing and her window glass got broken and he never paid for the damage.
It is time for the greedy politicians to go out in the sun and start cutting the bushes around the Island?
So whatis stopping the bush cutter from exploring investing into themselves to learn about landscaping which I would imagine includes perimeter measures, plants and their care. Finding a few gardens and show up to work? Government has to give these people the gift of being industrious?
Money, equipment, landscaping materials.
Investing in oneself is not free or cheap. It also takes time to build finances, get the equipment and materials.
Persons also need to be willing to take a chance on a “rookie” and allow them to conduct landscaping on their property.
Stop making it seem as if it is an on-switch and you are there.
Verge flail mowers and hedge cutter can do the job in a fraction of the time whilst the youth are paid for proper apprenticship jobs in construction , carpentry, plumbing, etc. Sweeping up on a job site is a better first step than bushcutting
You cant really train people when you don’t know how to do it yourself.
Roads and the perimeters have never been maintained properly. So who going to train them in the BVI on how to do it right.
Maybe if you go to Little Dix or Oil Nut Bay. They do not have overgrown roads. Is it because of training or better knowledge. Probably not. They just have people that manage people that cut the growth and clean the road. If it not clean or the job not done. They dont have a job. We need to ask them what we need to do to keep the roads nice. We need to stop paying people to do nothing.
Now WIGGIE since YOU opened your TRAP and just making NOISE which is ALL U do , HOW about * ARIGRIGCULTURE * and we ain’t talking about WEED , eve though it might be a plus AND DON’T YOU THINK WE NERD ARIGRIGCULTURE TO .GROW OUR OWN HEALTHY FOOD ❓️ , WELL ONE THING YOU CANNOT HOLLER OUT , OH ITS THEM WHITE SLAVE MASTERS FAULT , BUT THEN AGAIN KNOWING HOW YOUR EGO & ARROGANCE ARE UNITED , YOU PROBABLY DREAMING SOME SH*T TO TO PUT THE BLAME ON THE COLONIALIST AS USUAL / FRER THE WEED & FREE THE DREW & AND YOU GETTING A LITTLE HELP FROM PUFF DIDDY WHEATIE
WITH HIS – FREEJAMZ , MORE POWER TO YA’AL
Representative Mather, I beg to differ!
Landscaping abilities, or the proper usage of Bush cutting materials, can yield to a profitable, and rewarding career, if applied successfully!
Instead of discouraging the young people, be the impetus needed, for the uplifting of all who aspire, to become, in this career!
“Willpower”, has made an excellent point in the aforementioned, and I think that this is where the country’s leadership should go; in the facilitation of the business, and economics, of this-much needed area, that’s so vital to the maintenance, and beautification of these islands, we call home!
Yeah he talking good