Employment Minister, Ian Douglas, has insisted that the National Employment Program (NEP) is not coming to an end and is actually growing.
He described allegations that the program is in its final days as “rumors” being spread by the opposition.
“I can tell you that is no for a fact, categorically,” Douglas told DNO.
United Workers Party (UWP) Senator, Thomson Fontaine, had told privately-owned Q95 that the party had warned the program was going to end in March.
“And the reason why we said is because we understood that the government does not have the resources … it would die a natural death and that is what we have said,” he stated.
But Douglas said the matter is simply “politicking” by the UWP.
“Election is finished but the politicking continues as far as the opposition is concerned,” he said. “It’s just the opposition trying to spread rumors and scare people. The program will not be coming to an end. That is not true at all.”
He noted that presently “there are in excess of of 5,000 interns in the various disciplines” across the island and the Venezuela-funded program is expanding.
He stated that a hospitality program is expected to begin in the south-west next month “to get more young persons prepared to take up jobs and occupations in the hospitality sector.”
Douglas did admit that some non-performers in the program are being ‘weeded out’ based on reports from supervisors.
“We are looking at the program with a view to strengthening the program, weeding out those undesirables from the program, persons who do not work and produce and expect to get a salary at the end of the month just because it is the government that is paying,” he said.
The Employment Minister also dismissed as “rumors” Venezuela’s inability to continue funding the program because of the South American country’s economic situation.
The NEP was launched in December of 2013.
zor! Rum talk after a night out with the boys. How long them man expect people children that did there internship abroad or have their loans to pay after the same government fooled them into believing that they were actually getting a scholarship to better themselves; to stay under these cheap contracts? NEP Growing? so those that mean unemployment growing still??? SMH!! apparently all of lasts year’s interns were unable to graduate into more stable positions. I guess this government is seeking to make new professions, they are seriously considering calling our youth “professional interns”
Lying, lying, lying…….lying thru dere teeth…..
Rodney street in Portmouth had been dug up before election (although they did not have too cause it is Portmouth vote guaranteed ). There is no money to finish the project and the story is that they are waiting on the surveyors to provide the levels. Now even the ordinary elementare school kud would know that before you start the project the elevations and alignment would have been included in the design. How do you dig up the road,drain and sidewalk start the drain slab or invert,I stall some of the drainage wall rebar and then claim that you are waiting on levels from the surveyors. What is also laughable is the surveyors could shoot the points in less than two hours. Alas the people of Portsmouth will gaggle anything coming from Ian and the Labor Party.
One more thing in my presence a two garbage
trucks were promised in February 2015 we are waiting.
And Ian believe himself we… Alas.
Ian please, have you got any cojones of your own or did you leave them hanging in the bar for Roosevelt to play you like a yo-yo? Man, I’m so disappointed in you because deep down I know you are a decent feller. Man, I hope something will happen to you like what happen to that holy man Saul/Paul on his road to Damascus. It is not too late brother.
Majority of you Dominicans have no backbone to stand up to this government. I will not be surprise if you all vote them back again.
But Ian, wasn’t the NEP program suppose to be a temporary thing, or at least a bridge to help people to find a permanent job; instead of expanding, this program should not, as your party made effort to turn around the economy. You sound pretty ignorant when you said that the program is ‘here to stay’. Man I respected you as a classmate at 6th form- I really thought you would be an outstanding leader for Dominica with your impressive win as president of the student council. You have Skerrit pushing you around in all kinds of ministries, including this one which I don’t believe is your forte. What have become of you Mr. Douglas?
Unfortunately NEP is an awkward acronym, open to ridicule. In the Dutch speaking territories in our region it is an adjective meaning fake, sham, counterfeit, phoney (Surinam, Curacao, Aruba, Bonaire, St. Maarten, St. Eustatius and Saba). Even in S. Africa and Namibia don’t try and give someone nep money because it would be counterfeit and you may get arrested.
Here follows a choice selection of existing NEP acronyms:
Never-Ending Program
Needle Exchange program (for drug addicts)
New England Patriots
Non-English Proficient
Non-Equal Partner (in business)
Negative Expiratory Pressure
Nonessential Experimental Population (animal studies)
Non-Entitled Person
And one, especially for Triple-K: Noise Equivalent Power.
Skerrit put Iran to take the fall.
Undesirables mr. Douglas? Didn’t your government hire these people in the first place? Are you telling us they were not vetted? Don’t they need any qualifications? Are they just factotums?
What is most reprehensible about this N.E.P.,= Non-Essential-Personnel, hare brain programme is that it provides free labour for DLP cronies at the expense of the tax payer. Social(ist) engineering of the worst kind for vote catching. Young people, you are being used as political fodder.
Lies Lies Lies Lies. If that is true then why are the hundreds that were employed cleaning roads and planting flowers in LA PLAINE now UNEMPLOYED? and yes they were on NEP too. LIES
Is not that same Ian minister that say the Coffee plant at One mile Agric station is fully functional. weh weh, not one onze of coffeee has been produced, the raw coffee from Venezuela full termites…..lies and more lies.
NEP is unsustainable, IAN KNOWS IT!
This program won’t end in the true sense because it is a dlp tool to fool the people. It will be watered down with them keeping a few of their supporters until next election when they will pump more money into it to catch more votes. That’s the real truth. They are now rebuilding their statch of money which was deplited last election so there is not much resources left to keep everyone employed and that’s a fact. Ian is not speaking the truth but them again Portsmouth people will believe him. It Dominican expect this government to think for them well they have something coming. Just look at this, Ian made mention of those who were not producing referring to them as undesirables and the dlp supporters on here are running with it targeting their own young people who are victims of the state. What a shame. When will we learn?
Mr. Eyan, the writing is on the Wall. NEP is dying, call Pastor bull.
Ian the NEP is here to stay , so how come the director is now a PS in an other ministry ?
This NEP thing was an election scheme, Venezuela was funding the program and Venezuela is not in any position to fund this anymore. Let’s come to our senses people undersirables is the best term you could use to describe the young people. But even more damaging is the fact that people are getting 150 dollars for and entire month lol all you mad man……….all i can say is people need to start digging deeper into their hearts and minds and for us to find a way out of this deadlock of a country. The Government has ran out of Funds believe me when i tell you that. The VAT is not meeting it’s quota Dominica’s GDP has stalled for over 10 years now, Nobody is hiring cause there isn’t any work. Like it or not people NEP program is Over and this man want’s to come now and tell people who is undersirables and who not……..GTFOH…….Peace
So you mean after all Venezuela is going through mista them still there talking about Venezuela will fund this and that? and Dominicans just play ignorant and continue to allow this labour party to take them for fools ? I love My Pm WEE .. SMH
A government with no VISION have to perish and the only reason why DLP is in government today is because of the beggar syndrome they have injected in the minds of once upon a time free thinking Dominicans;, keep me poor to always come back for more.
I believe that the program is reaching its final lap hold on to the next level.
“He noted that presently “there are in excess of of 5,000 interns in the various disciplines” across the island and the Venezuela-funded program is expanding.” In a country of 70,000 people of which how much is of working age, 20000, 25000, 30000? A minister is admitting that at least 5000 could not find work or are unemployed if not for NEP. Plus when you add the unemployed that are not on NEP, we have a lot of our working age population unemployed or cannot find work. These are the people who must work so that pensions can be paid to the retired. Do you all see serious problems for Dominica in 10 to 15 years time? We need a national response to this problem. We need all hands on deck. The country needs to be more industrious and productive. What are our sustainable industries at this moment to see us into the future? Apart from begging China and Venezuela to recolonize which seem to be the preferred policy option at this moment!
This was a no starter from the word GO. Nothing but artificially created short term jobs. By the way Douglas, how did you arrive at figure of 5,000 interns. You must realy think that we Dominicans can not add up one and one. Dominica has only a maximum labour force of 30,000 which would mean you ‘created’ around 16.5% extra employment. Go back to school, Mr. Minister, you have problems with your Math.
Let me tell you what you did, you may have about 500 interns and thought for reasons of propaganda let’s add another zero. After all another zero is nothing. Boy you guys must realy think we are stupid. I predict that you Mr. Minister and the entire Labour Regime are not going to see out the next 5 years. The people will take you out. Too many lies – too much incompetence – too much corruption.
So Mr Minister where are those 5,000 interns placed in jobs across the island? Just asking!
Hmm 3 months ago the young people were desirable for the vote and 3 months after the election the young people are undesirable for work.
No surprise here Ian is immune to foot in mouth “dizzzzesss” in fact it doesn’t matter what comes from his mouth or how much of anything he puts in his mouth he is off Portmouth and Portsmouth People will vote for anyone with a red ribbon
The NEP program a scam….but it was implemented anyway, It should not surprise you if people are not going to work in a program that represent a scam.
Mr. Minister you are working in the GOVT for years which is not a scam and is responsible for the development of the country. But you have nothing to show as a productive minister while you collect a GOVT paycheck so I think you should be sent home immediately.
Charity begins at home!!!!!
De country nice
Lies and more lies, so why are people being told that they are not employing persons anymore. That was just an election gimmick, to fool people
Too many liars in this place and no jobs in sight.
baghdad bob. Nuff said.
deal or no deal……………………I only got $200.00. I was told when I am needed I will be called because too much of us are unemployed. I voted to keep my job its not yet 6 months with no job, im hurt im pulling out my hair….nevr me with DLP again
Why don’t you say is because you too damn lazy. Don’t want to work and expect to get pay! Things don’t work so Uwpite
So what does Douglas have to say about this.
Politics is the dirtiest play on earth …… When the masses are not up to par and the bureaucrats continue to play smart something will give one day….. It is sickening when this foolishness doesn’t seem to stop
“Who feels it knows it.” Let the truth be told, NEP is not sustainable just like the monies ($200) given to the 70yrs old and above. How can a country that imported 10 times more than its export in 2012 continue these programs indefinitely? Not even in oil rich Venezuela it’s going work under the rule of corrupted politicians.. Time will tell eh.
one good day you all will tell the people of Dominica the truth and nothing but the truth help me god. Mr Douglas you is not everyone that can stay in the NEP program, because there is no money to pay,
So Mr Douglas, I only got $150.00 for the month of February and I was told to wait because “there is no money yet to pay all you and we do not know when and if the programme will continue”! Don’t worry Ian. Five years go quickly by!!!
Stop tell lies…. you work for two or three days that’s what you should get $150.00.
Matt and Carlisle will build a mountain out of a hill. Dem guys dangerous and will go to the extreme to say all bad things about Skerrit and the Government. Good thing they are always proven wrong when they come with their BS. One wonders how do they feel after?
Continue to blame Matt and Carlisle while the economy under this DLP government plunges. Since the collapse of the banana industry, no significant industry (ies) has been introduced to grow the economy, create sustainable jobs and reduce inequality. The DLP has been in government for 15 years and counting. The NEP, like other government programmes, is a mirage to use Lennox Honychurch’s description.
Thank You Matt and Carlisle…please continue educating us and putting light on this thievery, corrupt DLP government. Brains is being his usual self, making a mockery of everything……
arent you reading the testimonies of the recipients of the NEP program? No, because you head stuck in yesterday.
“…Weeding out those undesirables from the program, persons who do not work and produce and expect to get a salary at the end of the month just because it is the government that is paying,” he said.
If only the government applied this rule to Ian Douglas, and other unproductive Ministers…
ALL YOU don’t want to work and expect to get paid. I see. No performance no job. Some of you playing smart but ain’t clever. You ALL UWPites motive are being discovered every day.
Undesirables? Huh. This is how a Government Minister refers to our young unemployed people?
Wow.
Had it been Lennox who had made that statement you would have seen how Skerrit and crew would have tried to crucify him.
So Ian, why is she no longer reporting to work? Did she lie to me when she told me that she was asked to stay home until further notice?
How do I listen and believe a person who recently told the world how he has been fooled by a person, not once, not twice and is today trying to convince us to believe that same person he gave his heart and soul to, only to be FOOLED by ? Has Ian received the FOOLING anointing?
Christ come quickly there is danger at the door.
Baa,baaa. I don’t take Ian seriously. He is a just a pawn in Skerrit’s game.
nep is not paying its workers fairly talking from experience this programme has no legitimacy to it !
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
so why am I sitting at home typing this response…
maybe you were a non performer
Like YOU……….
Is lazy you lazy, that’s why you home. If you were performing you would be at work.
Because you don’t want to work and and expect to get paid.
Because you’re maybe an “undesirable”?
Because you are a Dumb-ini-can or Dumb in the can.
And the payment never came
That is pure bull. My daughter was given 10 days paid leave and was to resume duties, since she was transferred. When she went to the NEP last week to inquire she was given a letter of termination and she was not one of those who would not work . In fact the workplace called to find out when she was coming back. So Mr Douglas stop this nonsense of telling untruths. Either that or making way for the boys and girls and I also think we live in an area where the DLP did not win, so are we being penalised
My friend i feel for you all under this dirty regime,keep praying the master is in control,he has it coming for the labour party.Once your not with them they victimize the poor people of Dominica.Time will tell.
Douglas …i cant wait to see the day you and Skerrit are out of our eyes and politics,stop fooling the poor people.
the ppl that fooling them selves
had the not vote for skerrit . skerrit would not have won
they that fooling themselves to believe skerrit will uplift them
Pray and hope that you will live that long and thereafter including being on your two feet. Tomorrow was promised to no one and none are more privileged than others..
Cease wishing harm for others. Do you not know when you wish this to others it will fall on you and two-fold? Not a smart person.
Mr Douglas I still think you have some integrity. Please don’t BS. The people.