Every year more and more young people are leaving the shores of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. They do so because the Unity Labour Party (ULP) government has failed to provide the opportunities for them to work and fulfil their dreams. Research has shown that St. Vincent and the Grenadines has the highest migration rate of young people in the OECS. It is time for a national campaign to support young people to stay in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The ULP government has damaged the economic prospects of the country and has increased unemployment, hopelessness and poverty among our youth. The Poverty Report of 2018 which the government has never published showed that poverty in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is worse since the ULP has gained power. The report showed that poverty in St. Vincent and the Grenadines moved from 30.2% of the population in 2008 to 36.1 % in 2018. And, the indigence level had moved from 2.9% to 11.3% in the country of 110,000 people.
There is no hope for young people in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. After twenty-two (22) years in power, the ULP government has failed to implement programs and policies to develop a culture of youth entrepreneurship so that young people can establish businesses and employ other young people. Instead, these young people are forced to travel to countries in the OECS, United Kingdom, Canada and the United States of America to seek employment.
At the end of the academic year 2022-2023, hundreds of students graduated College and secondary schools. While some students will be pursuing studies at universities, most of them will be seeking employment. The sad news for these youngsters is that there will be no employment opportunities for them. They will be joining the thousands of Vincentians who are already on the unemployment list. Youth unemployment in St. Vincent and the grenadines remains one of the highest in the region. Four out of 10 young people are unemployed. The ULP government has failed miserably to provide jobs and create the enabling environment to stimulate the private sector so that they can also create employment.
These young people have studied hard to achieve their qualifications. Their parents struggled and made sacrifices to send them to school and the ULP government has failed them. There are no meaningful careers in St. Vincent and the Grenadines where young people can flourish. The alternative for some is to leave the country and unfortunately, some of them turn to crime.
Too many of our young people do not have work or the prospect of a well-paid or meaningful job. Instead, many of our young people are trapped in either makeweight work provided by the government or are unemployed. The government answer to unemployment is to ignore it until election time.
As stated in our 2020 election manifesto, “We will ensure that our young people have the opportunities to succeed in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, without having to leave our shores. Our most valuable resource is our people and we need them to prosper as a country.”
There is a better way
There is a better way for young people in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The NDP offers hope and has a number of policies and programs that it will implement when it is elected to office to benefit the youth. We will create a sustainable job market, which offers lifelong careers to keep young people working in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, with salaries that allow them to provide for their families. Tackle crime, therefore stopping it from becoming a viable alternative for young people who are struggling to find work.
And, position St. Vincent and the Grenadines as a leading nation in the Caribbean, giving our young persons a sense of national pride and growing their desire to remain in the country and become active in social affairs.
Further, we will encourage a culture of youth entrepreneurship and provide the environment for them to grow. Young people who are involved in the private sector will benefit tremendously. We will establish a National Development Bank, to eliminate the credit problem and make financing more accessible and more affordable for local business people, especially small businesses. Our youths will benefit immensely from this bank. This bank will also provide training and technical assistance in agriculture, tourism, fisheries, small business development and human resource development.
The NDP understands and accepts that technology is not something in our future. It is here and it is now and we need to put it to work for our development. Therefore, we have identified Information Technology as an important area that will provide opportunities for our young people. We will place tremendous emphasis on Information Technology to tackle the unemployment situation which exists among our youths, in this country.
In our 2020 manifesto, we stated that we will reduce the student loan interest rate to 4.5 percent. Our interest rate for student loans of up to 9 percent is one of the highest in the region. We will enable the Development Bank to support students with cheaper loans, with an interest rate of 4.5 percent. This will be possible because of our plan to bring in new investment through our Citizen by Investment Programme.
We believe that the migration of several young people is because of the harsh economic conditions in the country. We deserve an economy that will thrive and create jobs and opportunities for the future, so our young people will not be forced to move abroad in search for work. Too many young people are leaving the country after completing their education. With a stronger and more diverse economy, we can create opportunities and provide the skills for long-term and well-paid jobs here in St Vincent and the Grenadines.