Parliamentary Representative for the Castle Bruce Constituency, Johnson Drigo, has confirmed that the National Employment Programme (NEP) has so far had a significant impact on young people in the area.
Speaking at an NEP Marketing Assistance Workshop in Castle Bruce on Wednesday, Drigo said a large number of people are currently benefitting from community-based projects through the NEP’s community employment programme.
Recently the government of Dominica, through the Small Business Support unit (SBSU) made available EC $100,000 to small business enterprises in that constituency.
“The number of persons who were coming to Johnson Drigo requesting assistance for small business was quite a lot, and through the Ministry of Trade,Small Business Unit, we got $100,000.00 to assist small businesses from Castle Bruce to Petite Soufriere,” he stated. “When the programme started, there were persons who criticized some of the young people who benefitted. They thought they should not have gotten any assistance. I knew these were young people, who needed to move on because they had skills and needed to practice their skills, and therefore with the support of the village council, which was mandated to manage the funds given, these young people were assisted and they are all doing well.”
Drigo said men and women have been involved in cleaning and beautification projects, farming, auto mechanics, tire repair, and bar and restaurant businesses, just to name a few.
He is especially excited about the fishing and pig rearing businesses now emerging in the community.
“We are on the move to re-establish the fishing industry in Castle Bruce to the best of our ability and right now we have a group of fisher folk who are bringing in quite a good catch on a regular basis,” he noted. “In addition, we have assisted guys who already had their pig project. All they needed was feed. They got feed to sustain them for three to five months from the NEP.”
The parliamentary representative added that two hair salons will soon be operational in the community, thanks to hair dressing equipment provided by the NEP.
“All their equipment for their hair dressing came in and I just got a duty free from government for them to clear it on the port … so two local people from Castle Bruce got their hair dressing equipment for their hair dressing business as we speak,” Johnson said.
He added that the NEP is also supporting domestic support activities as well as teacher support services to students in need.
Drigo disclosed that the NEP is now paying the salaries of 10 staff members of the Roving Care Givers Programme in Castle Bruce. He said that commitment has been given for the next 3 years.
“The NEP is paying the salaries for all staff of the Roving Care Givers staff and they will be paying it for the next 3 years. The funding agency Bernard Van Leer Foundation, through ChildFund Caribbean, could no longer fund the salaries, so therefore funds went dry and the NEP stepped in. 10 staff members now will have their salaries guaranteed for the next three years through the NEP programme,” he stated.
The NEP was launched by the DLP Government in December 2013 as a means of reducing unemployment levels among young people thereby stimulating economic growth.
Since the introduction of the programme, over 600 people have been employed under various components of the programme.
Dominican youth have been placed in jobs in the private and public sector, at statutory organizations and well as non- governmental organizations.
EC$7-million dollars have been made available by the Venezuelan Government in support of the NEP programme.
He should invest some of that money in to that disgusting small business of his.. thats what he should do! and stop lying for the public. he who feels it knows it.
5 YEARS OF LAHBOO!! 5 YEARS OF MUD!! JUST LOOK AT THE REUNION Centre ! thats all he has done!! we have a beat up reunion centre! and mud!! thanks much!! just look at the nasty shop he self has. i really don’t know how its certified to sell food for people!! oh no! change is a must not an option.
how long not long team Dominica all the way
the time has come and its now make way for the blue
Tell us the truth is your shop one of the project how many people you employed in it, only your family, labour slogan ‘all shall eat’. All the way with Isaac Baptist.
Papa No BOy JON NO doh try to create no impression. I hope the people who were at the meeting were not called and begged to come like the last time. The last meeting with Attorney general he paid me $50 to come. I miss this one , boy I know too much to vote for you. You lose john YEs.
isaac can and will do more than johnyes, just look at isaac he have created employment for more than twenty persons from the area up to the reserve and what have johnyes done, he has a shop since in the seventies and it havent move from that to a mini mart farless for a super market, where he would be able to employ at least three persons, Instead it is almost empty and he is in government. so tell me what will he be able to do for u and me.
Drigo I just don’t know who is the brave person that encouraged you to go into politics. To me you just don’t look and play the part of a professional. From just reading this I finally conclude that it’s better if you manage church groups and little community groups. It’s no wonder they haven’t considered allowing you to manage a ministry. Ah yes! smh
Are those monies from grant funds or our taxes? If its tax dollars then its sad when it is used as a political tool. In every country there are social programs it just has to be managed by the right institutions.
But wait where all them thing mr john oh say that happening in cb be. It doh have fisher men in cb we still have to bom ride to get a piece of fish in San sauver. And where the restaurants and bar for the most the only really place is by Rudy Papa zor john oh behave. I stop if I have to go on names might call of who get the money bye workers changes is a must.
I’m from castle Bruce I don’t live in dominica right now but I do talk to people there on a regular basis, and Mr drigo I have always respected you as child growing up but I must ask what the hell are you talking about smh
I’m from castle Bruce I don’t live in dominica right now but I do talk to people there on a regular basis, and Mr drigo I have always respected you as child growing up but I must ask what the hell are you talking about smh
Mr. Drigo, if the NEP program you talking about is similar to what Mr. Skerrit has in the Vieille case Constituency, then all all I can say is, Oh God, please have mercy on our country! I never thought I would live to see that level of blatant corruption in Vieille case and the entire constituency. We have persons getting thousands of dollars in the name of the NEP, and nothing to show. However, that NEP money that is being distributed is only given to RED Clients. Some red shop keepers are depending on the NEP to stock their shelves. So if that same thing is happening in the Castle Bruce constituency and other constituencies, then Dominica is all but done. This is not a political comment but one based on facts.
You can fool some people some times but you can’t fool all the people all the time
Did DNO paraphrase the words of this MP. I cannot believe that an MP would speak like this. He needs to learn a bit of sentence construction
“Drigo, has confirmed that the National Employment Programme (NEP) has so far had a significant impact on young people in the area.”
Drigo, for the moment the moment you people are giving money away to people to go and sit in places such as rum shops, and all kind of other places under the disguise of internship. It must have an impact on young people until after the elections. That program is a political program that is not employment, people in Dominica, with mom and pop business are cooperating with this mess because they are not paying the people to work.
When you fail to pay their salaries, the places you placed them as intern will not be responsible to pay them, hence they will be right back to square one, back home sitting on their Butt, with nothing to do. you are boosting about squat doodle, you are making a total fool of yourself, and anybody who would fall your some petty crap like that is a fool!
Rubbish, total rubbish!
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
Dno I know Dno write what they are told most of the time.
This was report by the parliamentary representative sounds confusing. Regarding the payment of 1o staff, then all the staff of the rover care givers staff etc.
Did We miss a post on Dno stating the rover care givers staff jobs were in trouble due to lack of funds?
The Village council, mandatory to handle/ distribute the funds? Is that not a family members and friends of some council? Do what you are told how and why I told you to!
Is this so parliamentary representative, that you have stopped criticizing People, Especially Young Genuine People. Hurt may cause permanent scares. LORD YOU DELIVER BY YOUR MIGHTY HAND. Sir if you have grown and stopped That is good, such a start.
Such was the time for publishing a strong plug for the names of the restaurant, auto mechanic shop, etc, as you reported to Dno. This community sounds as if it was upgraded to a town. Is it bigger than the town of Portsmouth?
People We Must Know And Remember THE LORD Our GOD IS PROVIDED. The Earth is THE LORD’S And The Fullness There In. It Is GOD’S And GOD’S Alone. All these things people call their own.
Young people given these employment keep your contract copies save and review them as often as necessary. If you all were placed in these places, that sounds slippery. There keep on the lookout, if you can for the shifting may be sudden. Without warning , you can be taken out of that place. This I say,so you be mindful how you treat those overlooked , or not given the opportunity you were given. Therefore Do and Speak Only Good, for this will have beneficial overflow. This may be your test. We Will Hear and See The Results Soon. So much Happens In Time, See.
Look at That! Is it your time already? Next! Where? level, you hear! What is that? Excuse me? Where have you been? How? But sir you see it already , the level? WHERE?
Giver May 23, 2014
“Dno I know Dno write what they are told most of the time.”
Some of you people are so sick, I wonder how many of you are walking around bewildered. If DNO are told by someone what to write on their website, do you believe that the sorrowful, and trivial comments you, and others submits would ever get posted?
I am surprised that some of you have not yet called on government to take away their site, as many of you did when cakafet was popular back in the day, when Rosie Douglas was king. DNO is not obligated to post anything which does not make sense on their site.
It is simple as that; I personally have written comments on the site, and they never saw daylight, I know why, but I could not be angry if I said something which in DNO’s opinion appears to be defamatory to someone. Tell you the truth, when I had my site plenty of people submitted comments, which I disallowed, because they were loaded with profanities. I also would delete anything I thought was intended to defame someone.
The truth is if DNO was taking orders form someone as to who’s comments they post, many of us would not stand a chance of seeing our comments published for obvious reasons; such as very poor spelling, and nonsensical comments; be grateful, and appreciate the opportunity they afford you to vent, because DNO does not owe you that right, or privilege, it is not a right nor privilege!
There was a time when the voices of the ordinary people in Dominica, could not be heard through the media. I know people including me who would submit comments on issues to the Dominica Chronicle; The Herald also in their day in their day; I believe they are now defunct: no matter what the comments were about they never got published. I remember one time in the 1970’s I wrote an article in regards to Tourism, and tourist ships visiting Dominica, they never published it,nevertheless, I was Reading nonsense under a Headline which took up space across the front page and the back page announcing the Roman Catholic has made Havis Shillingford a Saint.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!
Yes, Havis Shillingford; former Cricket commentator is a saint. I donot know if he is still alive. He is supposed to be from either Mahaut, or St. Joseph. If he is still a saint, Dominica Catholics must pray to him. Just the Truth I hope your memory takes you back to that day of sainthood. Right about that time also; I read where Athie wrote three of the same ” Mr. Mayor clean up the streets of Roseau;” and the three of the same was published. You had to have a name, or be a good Catholic in order to get you comments in the Chronicle which was owned by the Roman Catholic Church at the time.
Learn to appreciate DNO because without it, your opinions would simply remain in your thoughts!
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
Man are you a mag gee? Stop grinning like that man! . I would never waste my vote next to your mam,e? NO WAY!
Oh my God! Why are people so gullible. I mean if you all letting Johno fool all yu then that says a lot about who you all are. To take it from the start there was NO true assessment of the need of these young people before these monies were dispersed and JOHNO knows that that is true. The monies was just given out in a way to solicit votes. One person who received money told me that they never knew that that money came from the Ministry of Trade Small Business Unit until they were called to that meeting at the Pentecostal church. To add insult injury because no prior assessment was done there was not a a realistic disbursement of the money. all those who live out of Castle Bruce must come home to experience this craziness going on before they post anything about development
@ Anonymous , this money which johnyes says he gave for small business in castle bruce is not from his pocket ,it belongs to the people of dominica ,its your tax money and mines put together. Am so glad that the fishing industry is doing good in castle bruce but i must say to u johnyes pay the person there money for there boat since u are now boasting of a striving fishing industry in castle bruce.
“Speaking at an NEP Marketing Assistance Workshop in Castle Bruce on Wednesday,”
Drigo, if you want me to believe you are transparent then since you are addressing your constituents where everybody knows everybody, why did you so cleverly identified businesses such as cleaning and beautification projects, farming, auto mechanics, tire repair, and bar and restaurant businesses, fishing etc. but you failed to mention the names of persons that received money and how much?
He won’t be able to mention names or if he do, is those that close to him he will mention their names and they them selves have nothing to show what did with the money, not a bar, shop or anything, they use the money to make groceries for their homes, because Johno has no vision and have not created any sustainable job within the constituency that people could benefit from rather than pass from house to house saying ”ill check you, i’ll check you! this man has failed us tremendously, we need to kick him out!!
Ha! Ha! Ha! I wonder how many people you are fooling. Man you are just a waste of dam time. A total and absolute failure. Skerrit must have whipped all you, to come on DNO with all you crap mam.
“The number of persons who were coming to Johnson Drigo requesting assistance for small business was quite a lot, and through the Ministry of Trade,Small Business Unit, we got $100,000.00 to assist small businesses from Castle Bruce to Petite Soufriere,” he stated.
Mr. Drigo, are there not capable persons employed by the Ministry of Trade and small businesses? If yes, why are they not the ones disbursing these monies so THEY could take proper note of who is applying for money, how much given, what for, what kind of business etc? Why should so much money be given to politicians to spend? If that’s not CORRUTION what is? By the way Drigo, I have spoken to key employees of the Ministry of Trade and they have made it very clear to me that they have no idea of who getting money as no one is interviewed and no transparency.
I really wanna kwn y is all this projects taking place now,Where were those guys 14 yrs ago.They been running the country for 14yrs. Thank god for UWP they working overtime.Sad to say Dominican are easily fool they will vote those same DLP in again.Just dnt complain or cry when allyou backs are against the wall.
John-NO, Cbruce folks are strong and independent minded. However they gave you a shot last election and you have failed to deliver. I am sure they are no longer going to allow you to fool them again but will take all the gifts that you can bring from the El Supremo
. But Change will COME soon.
“I AM FOR CHANGE; ARE U?”
Assertive, NOT Agressive!
Is he losing his mind? . Man make way for Isaac Baptiste to be Parl Rep, with the nonsense you are blurting. This programme is coming fron a lazy, clueless and dunce government. What happens when the money is exhausted? Are you and Skerrit goinbg to pay them from your pockets?. I know you call can because————. This is the Labour party with the most dunce Parl Reps, who just lack the capacity to think.
HOW LONG?
NOT LONG!
% – Roosevelt knows why he surrounds himself with people who are incompetent and incapable of doing tasks assigned to them. You see chaps like Roosevelt are terrified of anyone who could mount a potential leadership or popularity challenge to him.
So he surrounds himself with people who he knows he can control and override as he wants.
Also by surrounding himself with such types of persons, Roosevelt has calculated that the onus for things to happen will fall back on him and he will get the opportunity to “behave like superman” in the eyes of the public.
Roosevelt has to be blamed for the failures in the various constituencies. He is cleverly trying to shield himself by fronting the parl reps as the ones responsible but don’t be fooled folks.
And what exactly do you think Isaac will do for you? Isaac is a man who spent/spends most of his time in Roseau. Isaac will pass you straight on the road and not even smile for you. this man is not interested in Castle Bruce. so if you say Jono not good what is the sense in putting somebody else worse than him?
This programme in any other country would be an internship into new sustainable jobs or simply work placement. It is time limited and target driven. Lets put it that way. There would be a permanent job awaiting you when you complete a set number of days work placement. One would need to prove their fitness for practic3 on completion of this placement. What you have there is a political stunt/gimic/response to try and deflect the failure of this incompetent administration to creat sustainable jobs for the young people. This will last until election and if (god forbid) these wicked men win these young people will be doomed because this cannot go on forever.
Jono also said they are constructing a playing field in San Sauveur, papa bondiere stop misleading the people nor man. That thing cannot host a cricket or football game, two of the main sports played in the area and in Dominica so how do you consider this a playing field? The little one by the school is bigger than it. Its a yard for the houses in the area, nothing more. You got your chance, you had 5 years, you were not impressive. I remember telling you of the condition of the road and your answer was; you have to drive in it too. Well your rope is getting shorter by the minute. YOU HAVE TO GO.
An independent audit needs to be done in order to measure the success of this government initiative. The impression I am getting is that this NEP was not well thought out and measures were not put in place to effectively disburse resources since parliamentary representatives seem to be “giving” constituents materials cash or kind. These millions of dollars should be properly managed so that every cent of tax payers’ money be accounted for. This should be business and not politics.
This programme in any othrr vountry would be an internship into new sustainable jobs or simply work placement. It is time limited and target driven. Lets put it that way. There would be a permanent job awaiting you when you complete a set number of days work placement. One would need to prove their fitness for practic3 on completion of this placement. What you have there is a political stunt/gimic/response to try and deflect the failure of this incompetent administration to creat sustainable jobs for the young people. This will last until election and if (god forbid) these wicked men win these young people will be doomed because this cannot go on forever.
DLP stop diverting us from the monelle issue every time a bomb burst all u sending propaganda
kuddos to you parl rep. some people so quick to criticize but don’t worry some where along the family line some one has benefited, whether they blue or red. You try your best to assist in whatever way possible and if people don’t make proper use of resources given for the intended purpose which they requested, who is to blame? the parl rep? give me a break!!! time and time and time I have heard the parl rep asking that people make use of the opportunities presented. there were a number of scholarship application forms available, but then and again is in USA they want to go. they dont want to go Morocco, China etc… well stay there and wait , when u ready to go study you will get the application form. that fertilizer story there ehhh…..people must stop being bias. every time the farmers group would have meetings they would put notices outside so that people attend and it was always mentioned that priority would be given to those who attend the meetings. so if the biggest plantain farmer in CB didn’t get fertilizer whose fault is it? CB people too like people to bottle feed them. Jono we got your back. another 5 years for you tan. Jono we know
Isaac who? 
Drigo that is simply not so. What have you done Jo- NO?
You did not say only labourites received assistance, just as the fertilizer was given only to labourites not even the biggest plantain farmer in Castle Bruce received a bag of fertilizer. Remember all most eat. Whatever you do to the less of your brother you do to me. One vote counts, Loreen won by one vote.Did,nt she?
See thats the issue with you people. Brand yourselves with pride in this segregation tool of politics. If the shoe was on the other foot and uwp was in gov’t and only workers got assisted what would you say? point is that “die hard” attitude of raising up your “party” and lambasting the others is what gets people defensive, like is their mother being spoken about or insulted. Dominicans taking “party” to heart and want to fight and get aggressive with each other over nonsense. talking about “oh Mr. is ah workers, or Mr. is ah loborite”. Keep in mind GROWN people that your children learn from you. So when serious social issues get mixed up with the attitudes and egos of ignorant people what else do you expect? Me? i not mixed up in none of that. Set of lames on both sides in any case, none of which are yet to give me a good reason to vote at all. I not going and endorse none of them man. NONE, blue or red or green or yellow.
Dear Mr. Drigo,
Please tell me ASAP when can I expect the road from Rosalie to Petite Soufriere will be connected.
I have no interest in your grandiose ideas, gwan van petite vwel bed time stories.
I would like you’ll to do a survey and find out how many small businesses are there or established under this program Mr. Drigo is talking about….The number of persons who were coming to Johnson Drigo requesting assistance for small business was quite a lot” that’s what he said, what he forget to say is ”The number of his close so called friends who came to him for assistance”, he had people from Petite Soufriere to Castle Bruce coming to him privately for money to gain votes, because he knows dam well he haven’t performed to be reelected as Pal rep, look at the roads from CB to PS and condition they are in, i wonder if he flies from CB to PS when he goes to his few supporters to keep lying giving them empty promises, over 14 years he can’t complete 2 1/2 ,miles of road from PS to Rosalie but he is here talking rubbish, he gave who he wanted money, all the young boys on the block once they brought an invoice to him he dish out monies to them right in his village in Castle Bruce, i can Boldly say that because i received $2000 from him to by my DJ equipment, and believe me he won’t see my vote!!! change is a must!! its time to go Mr. Drigo, your report card is empty!!!! poverty is on the rise, employment withing the constituency is sky high, can’t complete the Rosalie to Petite Soufriere link road over 14 Years, you can’t find a proper market for the farmers of Good Hope/Dipax etc to sell their produce, you can’t find a proper market for Bay leaf farmers of Petite Soufriere and you know that’s their livelihood, because you always in (Fond Bleau, Petite Soufriere) San Sauveur fishermen are suffering, our roads are in a deplorable condition,and i could go on and on, so tell me Mr. Drigo why should i elect you back??? why??? you won’t be able to answer this simple question because you can’t even speak in parliament on your people’s behalf, and all you pass an say is that ” I’ll check you!, I’ll check you! we the young people have seen the light and we are all the way with Team Dominica!!!!
well show us your report card because Jono own empty. what does it say? you’re a liar, a pretender an opportunist, a parasite. this sounds all to familiar. you should be ashamed of yourself, still boasting u got $2000.00. when u live in glass house don’t throw stone
Don’t eat yourself up
you sound just like someone i know!!!
on principle my brother you shouldnt have take di money den…
I took it because its my Tax Money!
The money belongs to the people, not Johno. What is wrong with your brain? Dont you know its tax payers money that is running the Labour campaign? Or your head is stuck somewhere (I dare not say on media!)
Jono, the world would read this and think so much is happening in the Castle Bruce constituency and all is well which is far from the truth. We the young people of this constituency are struggling because we have no jobs and we hear of so many scholarships that others all over Dominica and in the neighboring Salybia constituency are getting but we are unable to capture them (and yes we both know a lot of us apply). You are afraid of the bigger heads so we only get minimal while others get state of the art. One major project, the Rosalie road has been going on for about 10 years and can’t be completed. You pass around sharing money to get votes but that wont save you this time around. But I don’t blame you, I blame we the people because we still do like those in the past and vote based on friendship. You are just a white elephant and you must go.
Jono is NOT a whitle elephant!! He is a Black Sheep!!!
Happy the village where i grew have a positive life on the villagers and the young people
Come and see!!!
That is a positive move. I love when young people are making positive moves and being proactive. Happy that the current administration were able to step in and be of assistance.