As part of a deliberate strategy to mislead and create a sense of state dependency the political opposition in Guyana have conjured up this notion of a government with God-like qualities being responsible for everything under the sun. And as such their ploy is to blame the government when the sun shines hot, when it rains a lot and even when the breeze is too cold. Take for example, two days ago three known criminals were killed in confrontation with the police while executing a robbery. Though the reaction of the public has been by and large condemnatory of those killed, the macbethian witches in the opposition, their surrogates and media extensions have been busy blaming the government for the fact that these young men entered into a life of crime. Their obnoxious concoction this time is 'a lack of opportunities for youths'. It is here where we wish to expose these liars.
All would recall that during the campaign for the 2011 general elections both the APNU and AFC promised to create jobs for youths and spoke of plans to address issues facing youths. Well you would also recall that one of their first acts after attaining a combined one seat majority in parliament threatened the livelihood of hundreds of youths employed at various government agencies. And while they were busy practicing duplicity here's what has been happening with regards to government efforts to provide youths with opportunities.
In 2012, 221 students graduated from the Kuru Kuru Training Centre (KKTC) and 66 from the Sophia Training Centre, joining the more than 2000 others who would have benefitted since the introduction of the Youth Entrepreneurial Skills Training (YEST) programme in 2000. According to its website the YEST programme provides out-of-school, unskilled and unemployed youths with continuing education and skills which are fully accredited and equated to Caribbean vocational qualifications in areas such as business studies, carpentry, electrical installation, joinery, masonry, motor mechanics, plumbing, welding and fabrication and, garment construction. The Ministry of Labour's Board of Industrial Training(BIT) trained 3,762 young people through various projects in ten years from the year 2000 to 2009. In 2010 it completed training of 2,304 persons from the National Training Project for Youth Empowerment alone. The latter project has been responsible for the training and certification at the semi-skilled level of 2,922 youths up to the first quarter of 2010. The idea of the National Training Programme for Youth Empowerment was born out of former President Bharrat Jagdeo's many travels across the country and his interactions with young people, who expressed willingness to be employed or further their studies, but did not possess the means. To add to this we have a component of the Ministry of Home Affairs' Citizen Security Programme(CSP) referred to as the Community Action Component(CAC). According to the Ministry's website, through the CAC, opportunities are provided for hundreds of young people who were able to acquire skills to be meaningfully employed. This in some ways will assist in alleviating poverty and creating a more stable environment. Also embedded in the CAC’s Programme are the development or rehabilitation of multi-purpose facilities in the communities and the holding of community fun days.
Of course all this differs from the proposal for the re-introduction of the National Service from APNU leader and former Burnham strongman, David Granger as the panacea for the current situation. To date none of the proponents of this suggestion including the APNU leader have provided empirical evidence to support the contention that placing youths in the National Service instead of exposing them to various of skills training programmes will reduce crime.
There are many young people in this country who refuse to be drawn into a life of crime despite not having a job at the time and things not being the best with them. And this is what sets them apart from those who chose the other route but yet continue to receive support in certain quarters.
source
