Youth employment programme expected before year end
Amid the ongoing concerns about youth unemployment in society, Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has confirmed that his government is working to establish a private-public programme to address the issue before the end of 2025.
A public-private partnership to address youth unemployment is a solution being pushed by Opposition leader Myron Walwyn who said he previously ran a similar programme when he held the post of Education and Youth Affairs Minister under the previously governing National Democratic Party administration.
During a recent sitting of the House of Assembly, Walwyn asked the Premier when he plans to revive the programme in the territory: “I’ve asked the Premier on several occasions to implement a programme in the Ministry of Education for youth unemployment. The government would pay a portion of the salaries and the private sector would pay the other portion. The Premier said it was a good idea twice and nothing has happened, can you say where you are?”
In response, Premier Wheatley stated: “We’re working on something similar through the RATED programme, Ministry of Financial Services, Economic Development and Digital Transformation. My aim is to get it going before year-end.”
Walwyn also pressed the Premier to identify the measures that are being taken to provide employment for differently-abled adults who continue to be marginalised in the workforce.
To this question, Premier Wheatley revealed that differently-abled adults should be able to access opportunities through the government’s Workforce Readiness Programme that will come on stream later this year.
The Premier said the programme will focus on diversity and inclusion and will cater to all residents of the Virgin Islands.
“This programme presents an opportunity for the differently-abled persons to receive the requisite skills to be workforce ready. I’ll also add that we have to work with the Ministry of Health that is developing a policy as it pertains to differently-abled persons,” Premier Wheatley said.
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Everything coming for this government and it never comes. Walwyn has been hammering the Premier in emoluments with young people and the differently abled for months now and he has not produced anything. We are in trouble.
Lots of boats coming. Jobs for locals with no need for work permits!
Next bring the hotels over from USVI. Hilton should move to Prospect Reef.