The New Democratic Party (NDP) recently launched its Youth Guarantee Pledge. The President of the NDP and Leader of the Opposition, Honourable Dr Godwin Friday, signed the pledge. The pledge affirms that by the end of the NDP’s first term in government, every young person will have the opportunity of a job, place in a training or education programme or an internship.
To deliver this pledge, the NDP has planned a number of initiatives. The centrepiece is the construction of a new Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centre of excellence. This will ensure young people can access training, which will give them the skills needed to gain meaningful employment. We will also embark on a massive jobs expansion programme to increase the number of jobs being created each year. This will be built on the four pillars of the economy, agriculture, blue economy, tourism and the new economy.
It is an exciting time for the youth of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the NDP. We are proud to make the pledge to them. The NDP is committed to building an economy that works for everyone. It does not matter their background. The young people will have the training and opportunities they need to thrive and improve their quality of life.
By every metric, the Unity Labour Party (ULP) government has failed our young people. Our youth unemployment is abysmal, our migration rate is one of the highest in the Eastern Caribbean and poverty remains a fact for too many young people. Over a third – approximately 36% of the population is 29 years or younger and youth unemployment is at 41%. This is higher than when the ULP came into office. We believe that the opening of Sandals should spur on economic development and growth. But, the unemployment crisis is too serious to simply say the work is done. We need to keep moving forward and showing real progress for everyone in our country. The question now, what is next for job creation?
We need to equip young people for the future of work and provide them with the education, skills and training for successful careers. Therefore, the existing scholarship program will be expanded to offer a wider variety of opportunities for young people to access higher education, in properly accredited universities and colleges worldwide, in non-traditional areas/disciplines, such as music, sports and the arts. Additionally, a non-academic incentive program for youth will be designed and implemented.
We will also implement and promote a wide-ranging suite of awards for youth achievement, to serve as inspiration and motivation for other youth. These include, the National Environment Youth Award – a new national programme that will recognize young people across St. Vincent and the Grenadines for projects and activities that demonstrate their commitment to the environment. The Youth Minister’s Positive Image Awards – a programme to be implemented under the auspices of the minister responsible for youth, to recognize the many people in St. Vincent and the Grenadines who are working towards promoting a more positive image of young people within their schools and communities. And, the International Award for Youth – an internationally sponsored award for young people between the ages of 14 and 25 years.
We must note that the ULP government has systematically dismantled the National Youth Council (NYC). The NYC was the umbrella body for the youth groups throughout St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It was the voice of the youth on economic, social and political issues. It is a shame that in a country where the majority of the population are young people, there is not a functioning NYC. For example, in the year 2000, the president of the NYC, Israel Bruce, was part of the delegation that went to Grenada to seek a resolution to the ‘Road Block Revolution’. So, the NYC was actively involved in the decision making process. The NYC also helped to shape national leaders including current ministers of government, senators, candidates in general elections and business leaders.
Our secondary schools do not have Student Councils and we certainly do not have a National Student Council. These organizations were active under the NDP administration. The NDP understands and recognizes the importance of these organizations to youth development and will make it a priority to re-establish these bodies and support them when we are elected into government.
Further, the NDP will encourage and support the formation of a Youth Parliament, where young people with an interest in politics will be given the opportunity to develop their understanding of the practices and methods of the parliamentary system and to debate issues that are affecting them and the nation as a whole. Young people need to be heard. The youth parliament will be the avenue for them to share their ideas and offer solutions to problems affecting the nation.
Moreover, an unfortunate mistake made by a young person should not be a life sentence that condemns him or her to hopelessness. The NDP will offer second chances to these young first time offenders, so that they can rehabilitate and reintegrate into mainstream society. We will focus on community crime prevention and early interventions, giving young people the best chance at rehabilitation and personal growth through targeted programs of technical and vocational training, counselling and rehabilitation.
The ULP government has failed the young people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The ULP has not provided the opportunities for them to stay in the country. The young people have heard the lies from the ULP and cannot trust them anymore. They have had enough. The NDP is committed to providing the opportunities for the youth. We will ensure our young people have the opportunities to succeed in St. Vincent and the Grenadines without having to leave our shores.