UNC urges government to take care of youths in next budget

CHAIRMAN of the Penal Debe Regional Corporation (PDRC) Gowtam Maharaj made a stirring call for government to focus on youth development and employment in the next budget presentation.

“We must take care of our young people, because there is an unavoidable and inextricable link to poverty and crime,” he said at the final UNC pre-budget consultation in Penal on August 21.

“When you are unemployed, when you are in poverty, when you don’t know where the next meal is coming from, ideas form in your head.

“One of the most graphic examples of this is of the mother who stole school books. No one is saying that it was a right action, but when you look at the motive – wanting her child to go to school – and she has no money, no avenues opening up to her, this is what happens.”

The budget consultations were organised by the UNC to engage the public for recommendations and suggestions for incorporation in its budget presentation.

The final meeting was held at the Siparia constituency office of Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, in Penal.

Maharaj also made a case for the establishment of an apprenticeship programme in the region to benefit youths not academically inclined, while pointing to a correlation between unemployment and escalating crime.

“What pains me most,” he told the audience at Penal, “is that in one weeks’ time, the registrar at the PDRC will be opened for people to come in and register for jobs.

“Do you know the numbers we have reached in recent times? Five hundred, yes, 500 persons – men, women, children, single mothers – who would show up at the PDRC doors, waiting in a long line, with the hope of getting at least one ten-days job.”

He said the unemployment figure had drastically increased owing to the lack of job opportunities in the district.

“It is no secret that some of the major employers have closed their doors, putting employees, who have families to take care off, on the breadline.”

He pointed to the closure of former State-owned Petrotrin, which had operations in the Penal district and with it, the shutting down of the apprenticeship programme.

“What social impact assessment has been done to take care of all these employees, their families and their children who have become victims of that closure? None, none, none.”

That closure, he said, has trickled down to roti shops and other small businesses which would have serviced Petrotrin, forcing their closure as well.

“Tied to that, is the fact that the mainstream education system in this region and throughout TT is focused on academics.

“My budget submission, therefore, is that we must have an apprenticeship programme reopened in this region.”

He referred to UNC plans that were scrapped, to expand on a mariner operation, ship repairs, for training of young people to contribute to this valuable, income earning sector.

He said a National Energy Skills Centre (NESC) programme in Debe was shut down by the current administration and a MIC Institute of Technology programme running at Clarke Road, Penal could be boosted to offer programmes in the hospitality and tourism sector.

“We have booming mechanics in Penal, where young people could be trained. We have big names in hairstyling, an example from Mohess Road of Joy’s Roti Shop which is not a big concern in Florida.

“We have the capability, we just need the government to nurture it, open an apprentice programme and take care of the youths.”