NEB to replace NEP under UWP

Isaac said the NEP was born out of panic
Isaac said the NEP was born out of panic

The United Workers Party is proposing to establish a National Employment Bureau (NEB) which they say will replace the present National Employment Program (NEP).

According to the UWP the NEB will create permanent employment as opposed to the NEP, which the party says is a short-term measure.

“We are proposing to establish a National Employment Bureau (NEB) in which we will realign the whole process that is involved in the NEP to create more less a permanent employment program,” UWP candidate for the Roseau Central Constituency, Joseph Isaac.

Isaac said the NEB will be driven by the private sector and the NEP was “born out of panic.”

“There is a National Employment Program, I think it was born out of panic,” he said. “So just the whole fact that they call it a National Employment Program, anytime you use the word program, you know it is a short-term measure.”

He continued, “Anybody who thinks that the government could just come in when the same government is saying that we don’t have money, things are tight, we can’t give an increase to the public servants, but then now create the National Employment Program to spend or expand the size of government in terms of the wage bill, then you know it was not well thought of.”

Isaac is confident that the UWP can create 5,000 in three years if elected into office.

The NEP was launched in December of 2013 by the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) and since then over 1,000 people have been engaged.

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32 Comments

  1. Huh
    December 7, 2014

    The NEP program is a disaster. This is temporary fix. Hardly anybody was offered full time job and now after 1 year it has been extended for another 6 months. This is where the failure of the program comes into play. Personally, I love the idea of providing internship to young people especially those who recently come back from studies. But the idea that NEP is providing jobs is nonsense. A lot of people under NEP are placed and not doing anything related to their field. They are just occupying a seat in the business where they are placed. I believe this program has to be looked at, and I don’t believe NEB is the answer Mr. Issac. Let us not run and try to create jobs with a magic wave of the wand. We are not magicians and jobs will come when the economy is thriving and right now the Dominican economy needs a serious jumpstart. It has been 14 years under DLP and right now it is time to rebuild. Let us try to focus on the manifesto contents like boosting Construction, Agriculture, cutting cabinet, waste spending and stop trying to create new programs that is not feasible at this time. #MAKEWAYFORTHEBLUE#

  2. ken
    December 7, 2014

    I am a Dominican living out of Dominica and my problem with the opposition party is that why didn’t their leader go to the renaming of the airport, which has nothing to do with the current prime minister or even politics. It has everything to do with we as a people and country recognizing the good works, achievements and services of great men to our country. Lennox Linton is like a kid who throws tantrums when he doesn’t get his way. I am not saying he wont make a good leader but at this point he is just being too petty, which make him incompetent to lead.

  3. professor
    December 6, 2014

    why do they think that they can fool the poor people by coming with just a name change ? I mean come on guys in this day and age people are more educated and u cant just change a name on a programme and call it a promise. let us face it we need to hear more than that.

  4. December 6, 2014

    that’s right zico , real permanent jobs. i know that you guys can do it .

  5. real possie
    December 6, 2014

    So basically you saying you going to put lipstick on the pig? just remember what Obama said about that.

  6. Desmond
    December 6, 2014

    Joseph Isaac, let me tell you something from where I seat in an OECS Country, the government where I now live promised jobs jobs jobs as its number one priority when it campaigned in 2011 and today the unemployment is outrageously high 3 years later, so when you think you can fool the people of Dominica by changing the name of something you will magically create 5000 jobs, I think you and the entire UWP team is simply desperate for a 5year permanent job in government and will say anything to brain wash the people but God forbid. I do hope my Dominican people can read between the lines and see through you all, that you all are just a bunch of birds of a feather that flock together, there are so many skeletons in you all closets, running a Country requires much more than a bunch of jokers and guys riddled with bad and questionable characters. Why would 25000 Dominicans give a man in the person of Lennox Linton, a job when no one else in the past ten years saw it fit to give him one, not even q95 or anyone else in the UWP who own business? Doesn’t that say something? Yet he now comes to seek one from thousands on Monday, God forbid, and why would I in my good senses give the most important job in the Country to a man who has not worked in years, and why would I change that for someone who has a proven track record of hard work and progress in the past 14 yrs. I really pray that the wise people of Marigot get it right this time. When Lennox even before a day on the job would go to Las Vegas and spend good money fly to Atlanta and New York like he is some King and not find it necessary to help poor people of Marigot or any other place in Dominica with that money to prove to the people that he is putting his money where his mouth is, that is a man to fire before he is hired. I really do hope that the wise people of Marigot will have got it right on Monday and look at the big picture in DOMINICA and not person or party before Country, God bless you all as you vote wisely and make it count and make it matter on Monday.

    • 100% Dominican
      December 6, 2014

      People in your part of the island are probably unemployed because they are feebleminded and ignorant like you are! I think you should craft a better argument about Lennox being unemployed. Quit being a Jacko parrot and say something that actually makes sense!

  7. The Facts
    December 5, 2014

    Isaac, you are deceiving people or some of them. You think everyone is stupid and as you? You did not do your homework, your research when you said that a program is temporary, a short term measure. You do not deserve to be as much as a candidate much more to be voted for. You have put your foot in your mouth.
    You should have consulted your dictionary, the Thesaurus or Computer Research prior to making that statement. You would get the proper meaning of “Program.” You have greatly erred.
    Here is the meaning of program. The English word/spelling in the UK is programme.:

    1. A plan of action for achieving something.
    2. Set of activities with specific goal. A system of procedures or activities that has a specific purpose, e.g., to train an athletic team or “provide community support”.
    3. Routine – the established routine.

    You are campaigning for election and you made such a huge faux pas? You should be ashamed and should be fired. You created an embarrassment for your Team and for yourself. Who would want to vote for you?
    DNO, these people are out to discredit the PM – DLP. This is their aim. Dominicans must read the above. In all fairness to DLP, please ensure that you moderate this writing before Election Day even though you have to work overtime. :) Thank you!.

    • Bee
      December 6, 2014

      BUT WAIT nuh…. you silly man…. even if you go to webster and oxford and find the definition and you limited to that definition you in trouble. ever heard of context definition? but then again why am I surprised you are a supporter of the DLP
      The NEP is a short term program. Isn’t 6 months short term?

  8. Righteous
    December 5, 2014

    “We are proposing to establish a National Employment Bureau (NEB) in which we will realign the whole process that is involved in the NEP to create more less a permanent employment program,” UWP candidate for the Roseau Central Constituency, Joseph Isaac. Can you explain what more or less means? Will it be permanent employment or more or less?

    “There is a National Employment Program, I think it was born out of panic,” he said. “So just the whole fact that they call it a National Employment Program, anytime you use the word program, you know it is a short-term measure.” The last I checked, the definition of Program- a set of related measures, events, or activities with a particular long-term aim. I know that sometimes these politicians tend to try to confuse people but common, Program; Bureau, what is the difference. It sound like it will be the same program or Bureau- an office or department for transacting particular business or a government department- National Employment Bureau. It is like the colors baby blue and baby blue eyes.

    Just my observation.

    One Love Dominicans!!!!

    • The Facts
      December 8, 2014

      Isaac thinks he can deceive people with this change from NEP to NEB.. These people are too full of themselves.
      There is no guarantee that the NEB will not cease operating within a few months.

  9. independent thinker
    December 5, 2014

    NOT IF BUT WHEN.

  10. Cornea
    December 5, 2014

    That is the right path.

  11. enough..
    December 5, 2014

    Great news change is here…God you r doing your wk thx u father..

  12. 100% Dominican
    December 5, 2014

    We know that the NEP came from the UWP economic forum. Indeed it was done under a state of panic and thus the process is now a mess. It was not well planned (if at all planned). Now they make it look like UWP steal all their ideas. But they can full some people all the time but not all the people all the time! Team UWP

    • The Facts
      December 6, 2014

      Programs and whatever are liable to be changed. If you are broadminded you should know that governments consistently implement programs and after they are in effect and as time goes by they may notice an error or how better it could be applied and make changes to them. There are times, too, that the programs are not as effective as they thought and changes are made. This occurs in a progressive country. If you are not aware of that, learn something.
      As an example, the provincial government implemented a new system to pay those on social assistance, thinking that it was an efficient one. I heard on the News, at the end of November, there was a huge error whereby some of those welfare recipients received too much money. Some may have thought that the government gave them a bonus or an early Christmas gift. :)
      Well, the government is in the process of collecting the extra dollars, no doubt a few hundred from each person who received more than they were entitled to. Thousands of recipients were overpaid.. If they spent it and cannot afford to return the full amount, all in one lump sum, the government will deduct a certain amount from their monthly benefit until it is paid in full.
      All levels of government have gone paperless. Cheques are no longer issued and mailed out. They are directly deposited to accounts.
      Paperless is the way of life now for those who accept it. The government one is mandatory. Most business enterprises have adopted it in paying their employees and customers, etc., for paying their bills. It is better, simpler, less expensive, faster and saves time. We know about e-billing. I would love to comment further on this, I suppose sometime later if the opportunity presents itself.
      Therefore, understand programs are implemented, sometimes in a hurry especially in emergencies. Later they can be modified for efficiency. If Isaac used his head he would not criticize the PM for this NEP.
      Isaac, this is no reason to make an election issue out of this It is much ado about nothing. I visualize that this UWP change will not benefit those who receive this assistance under the NEP program one way or the other. I do not view your change as being worthwhile.

      • KWS
        December 8, 2014

        You just said a whole bunch of nothing!

  13. Anonymous
    December 5, 2014

    I seeeeeeeee……..then you guys will replace red clinic for blue clinic
    looking at the trend……bunch of copy cats who claim they are educated but they each coming on a mission to fill their pockets and put our country backwards……………..you guys cant lead if you reject everything the present Government has being doing……..degrading and insulting international countries…… not looking forward to you guys so called change.

    • 100% Dominican
      December 6, 2014

      Copy cats! You are just another jacko parrot just repeating everything you hear! A lot of DLPs implementations came from strategies proposed by the UWP. I guess they have already brainwashed you and impaired your vision so you can only see with one eye. Shame!

  14. December 5, 2014

    Is time team dominica win that election,,in Dublanc the government NEP got people working by the bay picking up waste..what can young people who went to collage possibly learn from that?? We really need change in Dublanc and Dominica by extension,,nothing has happened interms of development

    • The Facts
      December 8, 2014

      A job is a job as long as it brings in some dollars to sustain oneself. They must start from somewhere, from scratch.
      Let me further inform you. In Toronto of all, there are professionals as lawyers and dentists who drive taxi cabs and work in factories and other places you would not expect to see them work. They have no choice but to do so to make a living. Some of them continue studying and job hunt at the same time. If they are not yet senior citizens who qualify for a government pension, they may be receiving money from social assistance.
      Everything is temporary. Patience is necessary. Some day they will obtain a better paying job. The discipline and experience will serve them well. Therefore, do not be narrow-minded and look down on the type of work they can perform and criticize it.
      As we are preparing to celebrate Christmas, the Birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ, remember that He was born in a manger. Why did Our Almighty Father allow this to happen, even to ordain that this is the way it should happen? To show us that we should be loving, humble and patient and that Rome was not built in a day. In addition that we need so much to live on to also make us happy.
      Today, note what some members of humanity have done. They make it more expensive for us with their technologies and ever-increasing ones. Therefore, we need more money to survive, to pay those bills. Who do they benefit? The manufacturers, those who market them and retail them. No criticism here but just trying to make a point.
      In bygone years, Dominicans did not blame the government for being unemployed. The government in those days did not give a cent to the unemployed. They did not get jobs for the unemployed. They did not train the unemployed. The unemployed were at the mercy of their relatives to assist them.
      Today, you people are being helped in various ways. You must exercise patience and be appreciative. Know that God detests ungrateful people which is what some of you are. Do you not think that you will be punished for it? You have no gratitude in your heart. This is a mark of unloving ways. I could state more.

  15. SCAMB
    December 5, 2014

    you have vision my boy, nep was indeed born out of panic by those people that don’t thing

  16. Barbara Saunders
    December 5, 2014

    But my goodness!

    If it is a panic programme, at least show some originality in your own and call it something else. changing the P to a B seems to me more of the same which I could now name double-panic! Everything was criticised so I’m looking for new and innovative ideas instead it is “we will continue all the social programmes and improve on them; we will not have a red clinic but we will change it so that we the Ministers will not dish out the goods ourselves; we will ’embellish’ the housing revolution; we will build a modern hospital ( when one is already about to start); we will modernise Roseau (when the modernisation has more or less begun, with the Roseau promenade etc. in the pipeline). Already the layout and concepts of the manifestos are almost carbon copies, we know which one followed the other. So what are we changing? come on guys!

    • 100% Dominican
      December 6, 2014

      Its sad to see my people just talk talk talk! Take a few steps back to the UWP economic forum and you will talk about originality and create thinking for development. The NEP was born out of the UWP economic forum. The plan for development and job creation was so brilliant that DLP had to think at lightening speed to counteract the plans. NEP came shortly after…Up to now the programme is a mess. People still walking up and down being humiliated and wasting their time trying to get a little $1000./month. Go and do your homework! Another jacko parrot…just breeding everything you hear

    • The Facts
      December 6, 2014

      I agree. You made me smile/laugh. :) :lol: From P to B. Funny, isn’t it? It shows. He is not too smart. One would think he would think of different words. He is just trying to impress people but he failed. He does not even know the meaning of program.
      These people have overly criticized the PM and his administration. There was too much of it and some unwarranted/uncalled for.
      I have an idea how the government could administer the social (benefit) program, hopefully efficiently. I am awaiting the outcome of the election. If DLP wins (I hope so) I will inform the government about it. Otherwise, (I hope not), I will keep my suggestions to myself.

      • Lord bless me .
        December 8, 2014

        @ The Facts

        You are such a fool ! You are also unpatriotic ! So if the DLP wins you will submit ideas as to how the social programmes can be administered, but you will remain silent if the UWP wins. You try to sound intelligent but you’re are of a petty and retrograde mind. So much for love of country.

  17. Zuma
    December 5, 2014

    Isaac, whilst I may agree with your initiative to some point certainly it does not remove the existing condition of jobs but just a change of name.. I suggest you advice the private sector to increase the job market for able educated persons… Or develop capable persons to develop their own business.. Even the government is already stretched,.. What positions exactly will the UWP provide as a government. Unless proposing early retirement to government employees so that the unemployed can take their place…

    • da
      December 6, 2014

      well said. Dominicans think is the government that must provides jobs. 5000 jobs in 5 yrs you got to be kidding me. who gonna pay the salary? worst uwp want to cut all ties with the countries that help dominica, where is the money coming from USA? I think not. lol

  18. Anonymous
    December 5, 2014

    And when you register the NEB, count all the 1000 plus people that was that you transfer from the NEP as part of the 5,000 new jobs that was created under UWP.

    • The Facts
      December 6, 2014

      5,000 jobs you say? In one year, two, three, four or five? In this age, this is left to be seen. If I were a Dominican electoral candidate, this is one promise I would not make. Do not hold your breathe. Some people may starve before this occurs.

  19. Unity
    December 5, 2014

    Well that made sense. But we Dominicans prefer action. Giving UWP a chance in power doesn’t necessarily mean their promises and intentions will occur. :* Just saying…No one knows

  20. Domnichen
    December 5, 2014

    Keep on dreaming!

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