COMMENTARY: Crisis facing Dominica’s youth

Youth Unemployment is considered to be the foremost challenge facing youths globally as the world grapples with the shock of COVID-19 and economic uncertainties. These widespread effects on global economies continue to hinder the success of Dominica’s youth. With scores of students leaving tertiary institutions annually and unable to be gainfully employed, this situation has driven many into poverty.  While the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica reports economic growth, thousands remain unemployed.

The expectation was that Dominica’s youth would be gainfully employed and have the ability to take care of their families.

A few things will matter more than others.

Firstly, it is worrying that young women are affected the most. This is partly due to the fact that young women generally face an uphill battle in the arena for employment, also women assuming the role of motherhood has made the demands of rearing children and bringing an income very burdensome in the Dominican context.

Unemployment persists due to a very underdeveloped private sector and little or no investment in small businesses and entrepreneurship.

Dominica’s statistics department is very tight-lipped on publishing official employment data and it would be surprising if any major financial institutions such as the World Bank or IMF have it.

Sources however suggested that it is within the range of 25% to 37%. It’s really not hard to hypothesize these percentages, especially in the absence of an agency or department to monitor or measure youth unemployment in Dominica.

Unemployment is “when someone is actively seeking employment but is not able to find a job.” The key phrase is “seeking or looking for.” The Dominica State College coupled with other Tertiary Education Institutions produce thousands of trained youth each academic year. The Dominica State College alone graduates at times close to 600 students.

In the absence of an organization or department to track, monitor, and measure unemployment among youth, unemployment malaise persists and seethes throughout the fabric of our society which is  a stark difference from other Caribbean Islands. Young Dominicans are also not encouraged  or informed to register their unemployment or seek unemployment benefits thereof.

With very underdeveloped public & private sectors that are not able to absorb these talents, youth are forced to leave or seek precarious way to make ends meet not outrulling Narcotics / Prostitution and Crime.

The attempt to generate employment through the National Employment Program was greeted with joy in the initial stages but soon became a vicious cycle of poverty. This is on the basis that contracts are Short Term (6mths- 1yr), with no employment guarantee or employment benefit such as retirement. Which is necessary to supplement one’s Social Security Program.

If you think that was bad enough, no one engaged under the National Employment Program can use their employment status in seeking loans or financial assistance from the Credit Unions or Banks in Dominica. In cases where these arrangements exist it’s usually a favor granted to the intern through political, religious, or family ties.

The National Employment Program also does not make any allowance for persons who become ill or are on maternity leave for a period exceeding 21 consecutive days and are terminated with immediate effect.

The National Employment Program is a public service within public service. During the period the Government of Dominica underwent Austerity Measures imposed by the IMF in 2003. Its wage bill was one that needed to be cut. So rather than firing people or hiring new ones the NEP was formulated which does not bind the government to any serious arrangement with the employees who are INTERNS hence making them easily dispensable.

The NEP does not form part of Government Payroll and although it is highlighted as a Capital Project in the National Budget. It is funded by the Country’s Citizenship by Investment Program (CBI). And one way for the Government to engage its voluminous support base. More than 95% of INTERNS are party supporters and there is a strict policy that to be engaged you must be a loyal supporter of the party as well as your family.

Enough cannot be stressed that Entrepreneurship or Micro & Medium-Sized Enterprises are the engines for economic growth in Dominica. There are many talented and resourceful young Dominicans who simply want to own their business by providing a service or product. Many of these businesses fall within the Creative Sector ( Photographers, Videographers, Musicians, Artist) and Agro-Processing ( Coaco, Pepper, Vegetables, Cassava, etc) Others are directly related to Beauty and Cosmetics ( Hair Salon, Barbershops, Manicure, Pedicure, etc)

Auto-Mechanics, Masonry, Carpentry, Taxi/ Bus- Driver, Restaurants, Small Hotels, Tailors are also other areas that attract Entrepreneurs.

It is evident that although there is money being spent on Small Business it is controlled and grants are given to people who are not serious about business but rather use the proceeds for vacationing, buying jewelry & clothes, and engaging in criminal activities.

There are few cases of productive businesses but those are only supported to justify the Government’s position on Small Business Support.

It is also extremely difficult to access the loans that were set aside by the Government at the AID Bank thus further complicating the unemployment crisis.

With no hope of having long-term employment which benefits retirement and little or no investment in the Small Business Sector, Dominica’s youth are more than disenfranchised, they are desperate and feel a sense of hopelessness.

Their only escape is alcohol, promiscuity, and drugs which is wood in the fire on which poverty thrives.

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7 Comments

  1. April 26, 2022

    I’m so disappointed in the Dominican youth, good for the Young people let them speak for themselves; they more than anyone else are well aware of the Economic situation in Dominica and have chosen to remain silent despite the reality steering them in the face; however when it comes to “SEWO” is there they strong, no wonder skerrit and the DLP continues to Politically and Economically and Mentally, enslave them.

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
  2. DAFriend
    April 26, 2022

    I would have expected at least a hundred youth to air their frustration and disappointment on here. But alas, silence… They must be quite happy and content with their lives in Dominica. I am speechless and I really fear for our once so beautiful righteous country.

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 1
  3. Ti Garcon
    April 25, 2022

    Life isn’t what you want, it’s what it is.

    So much youth are either lazy and on drugs, or think the way forward is only in a paper degree. There’s 100’s of opportunities, but they are to blind or ignorant it grasp them.

    Even those that work in small businesses, even those with ‘degrees’ want fast money and over price their goods or services to make it big quick. Only because they have a social status to maintain.

    Dominica is a whole mess, it’s unfair to solely blame the government, the way parents are upbringing children today are setting them up for failure. The same way parents in the 70s and 80s didn’t want their children to be in field, they wanted only lawyers and doctors. Today to be a lawyer is no different for being a cashier at a supermarket.

    There are countless partical skill jobs available and in demand. Is it easy to get a good mechanic in Dominica today? Or welder, furniture maker, chainsaw man, carpenter, landscaper among others. Even nurses are…

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 2
  4. Ti Garcon
    April 25, 2022

    This is all nice and dandy, but you ignore the stack reality. Most youth of today don’t want to work and are extremely unproductive. There are 100’s of jobs in construction, mechanics etc, but the local labour force is inefficient. This is a fact. There are also labour shortages in agriculture. But I guess employment is only in office jobs.
    Employment is defined as people who are actually looking for work, and I’m sure in Dominica this is under 10%. There most be over 30% of youth who could care less, they just looking for their next high or nut.
    I agree with the lack of access to AID loans, but NEP workers work under 5 hours a day. They start at 8am and by 12 they are done. If they got serious ambition, the NEP stipend should be seen as a supplementary income, and in their afternoons or days they don’t work for NEP they can pursue other interests be it in Agriculture or other skills set. Use it as startup income. But you think NEP workers think like that?

  5. Lin clown
    April 25, 2022

    The youth in Dominica cannot find the job THEY want.In the Layou valley there are acres and of land left by parents of the youth.The fact is the youth has abandoned the land and left it to the Haitians who make and send home millions of dollars every year.In the bigger countries Canada for example the school goers would wait for vacation(when school close)to go work on the farm.In Dominica it”s different,a school goer would not even think of working.In Dominica the youth will choose to stay unemployed unless they get to do the job they want to do.I wonder if Paul Baron know about the situation at Clear Harbour in Portsmouth.In the USA there are former teachers,nurses and police officers who have become babysitters,labourers and cabbage collectors.That BS “I have a Bsc in agriculture I not going into fishing”. Is the mentality of IBO,St.Jean and Gramoxone Francisco-dog.We all know a large number of people have moved from the NEP to permanent jobs.

    Hot debate. What do you think? Thumb up 2 Thumb down 11
  6. Jonathan Y St Jean
    April 24, 2022

    Thank you Paul for shedding a light on the dreadful situation facing youth in Dominca under the comatose Skerritt administration, which sees selling passports as the next level for development. This backward administration even facilitated the departure of RUSM, which brought in 30¢ of every dollar in the country, and haven’t been able or are incapable of finding something viable to replace the economic contribution for Dominca. The years which the unfortunate youth are wasting now will never be made up because it will take a long time to replace and rebuild the small business sector decimated by the “next level”. The short sighted approach of this government only looks at the success of the few who are close to it and benefit from the nepotism. Their wealth will not be able to shield them from the carnage which the pent-up wasted energy of the mass of young people who have lost out might unleash on society in the near future.

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 20 Thumb down 1
  7. Ibo France
    April 24, 2022

    Government erecting buildings and repairing roads are important but that is easy to do once there is money. Creating a vibrant economy where good paying jobs are readily available is much more challenging. The latter is urgently needed in Dominica.

    Unemployment is astronomically high in Dominica, and so is underemployment. Inflation is constantly on the rise. The purchasing power of the average citizen has rapidly diminished. The once thriving Middle Class has disappeared. Thousands of people have fallen below the poverty line. The sad thing is, the government has devised no strategic economic plan to fix this perennially ailing economy. They are completely clueless.

    There are many citizens of great economic mind but they are being excluded from helping with decision-making. The wheels of the country are falling off. Soon the engine will completely stop functioning. Ominous, dark and dangerous economic times are imminent. Wake up people!

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 20 Thumb down 1

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