PM: Youths doing many good things in Trinidad and Tobago

THE Prime Minister lauded youths taking part in development projects, expressing pleasure that there is significant uptake from young people when projects are launched.

“I am so pleased that when the programmes come out inviting people that there is a tremendous response from young people saying they want to be a part of it,” Dr Rowley said in his feature address at the launch of Youth Agricultural Shade House Project held in Chaguaramas on August 15.

“I want to acknowledge those young people who have taken the decision to direct their lives to programmes like this,” Rowley said.

“Anybody can tell you how bad things are in the country and the bad things that young people are doing. It makes the news every day. A few of them with guns are trying to kill all of us. But there are so many good things that so many young people are doing that they must be acknowledged for that.”

The shade house project is a youth-focused agricultural project designed to equip young nationals between the ages of 16-35 with skills and resources to develop high-value, short-term crops.

The project site is located at the Chaguaramas Development Authority agricultural park in Tucker Valley, Chaguaramas.

The youths involved will take part in a one-year programme on shade house production and management, which will come with a stipend.

Rowley said the project will provide great opportunities for youths who are interested in agriculture.

“Those people who are on the site and who will be here, they will work here, produce goods and get income… they will become part owner in the business here.”

He added that some will see the benefit of starting their own businesses.

The project has already trained 200 youths in greenhouse management, and 100 in aquaculture. Minister of Youth Development and National Service Foster Cummings said the government hopes to train 1,500 farmers by next year, through this project.

“We are training the students, not only to be farmers but to be entrepreneurs. They will get the support to establish a co-operative at this location, but some are already at their own location, because they have their access to land, and they are doing their own bit.”

“We are introducing, as a government, with the support of stakeholders, a new cadre of farmers in TT.”

One graduate from the first cohort of the project, Kelsie Lewis, said she made the conscious decision to become a farmer.

“Food security is a major issue for most countries,” she said “For those issues to be treated with, we must ensure that we meet certain targets such as ensuring vulnerable people have nutritious food, increasing agricultural productivity and the incomes of small-scale farmers.”

She said she applied to different incentive programmes and later was accepted to the shade house project. She said she was able to apply what she learned at the project immediately on a structure that she built on her family’s land.

“I learned to use proper materials in construction and plant care in a controlled environment,” she said. “I encourage all young people to be a part of making the nation food-secure.”