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.