The Roosevelt Skerrit-led government is hailing the recently launched National Employment Programme (NEP) saying it is already bearing fruit.
NEP was launched on December 2, 2013 and over 260 young people have already been employed. .
NEP is a government initiative which employs a number of people, such as unemployed college and university graduates, by placing them in public and private sector firms.
The government pays the salaries of those employed.
Prime minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, sees the NEP as a tangible approach to tackling unemployment among the youth. He believes that today’s high school, college and university graduates through no fault of theirs have inherited a global phenomenon of unemployment and under employment.
NEP is aimed at realistically confronting these problems, according to Skerrit.
“This is not a pie in the sky offer; this is not the figment of anybody’s imagination; this is not about words; it is about addressing a practical problem in a practical and tangible way,” he said of the programme. “And so far, 262 young men and women have been fully engaged under this programme and all will get paid and all shall get paid at the end of the month because we have been able to negotiate the resources for that.”
According to Skerrit the programme has been funded to the tune of $7-million in grants from the government of Venezuela.
He sees NEP as a win-win for all concerned.
“We felt we owed it to our young people to get them off the block and out of their parents’ homes,” he said. “We heard them when they said they were frustrated, losing faith and enthusiasm. So I urge all sides to cooperate in this venture and let Dominica, once again, be the shining example of how small island states can look within for solutions to mounting social and economic challenges.”
Skerrit said when the government spoke about the programme a few months ago, “the naysayers said it could not and would not happen.”
“Others came back a few weeks later and said it had been promised but not delivered. Notwithstanding all the negative vibes, I am happy today to embrace the National Employment Program of Dominica,” he said.
People in Curacao, Bonaire, Aruba, St. Maarten, Saba and Statia know that NEP stands for FAKE. Next time chose your name more carefully.
Mr skerrit please bring back the days when we use to drivr through Roseau and see the geest boat takins. Our banana. To England.
mr.prime minister u continue to take the people of this beautiful country for FOOLS,but come what may change is a must tis time around,u say ‘this money is not pie from the sky’,but seem to forget or ust playing wise,that MONEY LAUNDERING IS A VERY SERIOUS OFFENCE INTERNATIONALLY,u’re being watched very closely by the international community,u can fool some people sometime but u cannot fool all the people all the time,pray that u remain in power,because u’ve fallen in the trap of greedy,lies and corruption and many of your ministers also,u and many of them will be made a serious example of by international law,not by UWP,but by law.this is very serious,recently I was priviledged, after being polygraphed to view a series of legal preparations already taking place your behalf and five other government ministers,serious monetary matters awaits you legally mr.prime minister,STOP AND THINK SIR.and for the record I do not live on island.
Yes-I Bogoroy…by the way what does bogoroy mean? idiot! The so call jobs being created especially in places like the PMH and DBS are available positions which have been vacant for years because the Govn did not want to give them to qualified non-labour supporters and for your information if a position has been vacant and someone given that job it is not a newly created job…it is just a vacant spot filled. so in reality the govn just making the sit-u-ation worst…no wonder they giving toilet…yet we cant cause we got no food to eat
I’ll take the salary for the year and vote you all out cause change is a must waiting for the funds to run out…just after the election and twice as many unemployed and begging…my pwe-pwe done build if these stupid Dummi-incans vote all you back in me and the illegal Haitians will be on the pwe-pwe heading to anywhere butt here even if we cannot swim….
heheheheheheh
My fellow Dominicans, Dominica News Online should be submitted with a petition to rename it “United Workers Party News Online because whenever myself or others have posted any article/comments that is critical of the UWP, it has always been removed.
This is disgraceful biaseness from a media organisation that is suppose to display a level playing field.
It seem the UWP must be paying DNO for exclusive rights to edit and publish comments that are favourable only to the UWP.
This UWP lightweights are only engaging in premitive and small time politics.
It is diversion tactics to divert away from their own shortcoming.
The UWP must start by coming up with ground braking and visionary policies to show they are the government in waiting.
Instead they seem to have appointed themselves as an anti corruption commision by constantly going on about baseless allegations of corruption; yet failing to come up with any meaningful policies to convince the country that they are the party to move the country forward.
How do they expect people to vote for them is totally mind boggling.
@Too Much Borbol After your filth is allowed to be ventilated by DNO you aare still idiotic enough to make this asinine comnment. Poor You.
why don’t u go take a sleeping pill and get some rest,u seem to be a bit tired.
When my nephew who was attached to the hospital got his cheque last month the look on his face when i saw him by save a-lot was sufficient to convince me of the programme. GOOD JOB PM.
Mr. Skerrit sir, do you know in some of those business establishments where you place those persons some employees are losing there jobs,some are being sent on no pay leave for six months, why, if they are getting free labor why not make good use of it and save some money already business is extreamly slow doh matter what time of the year. be it weekend, fortnight,monthend or christmas only the chinese are doing well. Sir can you explain the early fruits (my god).we are in trouble help us.
That would be the inevitable consequence without ensuring first that hose enterprises employing the govt. temps do not lay off their regular workers so as to save money. It would be interesting to know, which private enterprises are benefiting from this free labour or is that a “none of our damn business” either? Since it is tax payers’ money funding this I think we have a right to know where our money is going.
is that a sustainable form of employment
and has the minimun wage drop from $800 to $700.0
I think you guys have run out of ideas of how to keep us poor and begging you
Roosevelt Skerrit only care about Roosevelt Skerrit does not care about Dominicans.
Time to Go Skerrit!! The worse prime minister in Dominicas history! Allez!
I will say again do your homework when Eugenia Charles was there was she better than Skerrit was Eddison James better than Skerrit he’ll no please do your research
Is that a recent picture of the PM. Boy Mista looking tired and wary, hmmmm. Prime? you ok?
We would like to see your picture. I bet we would be surprised how haggard and worn out you look.
there is supposed to be a superannuated self righteous lady in Canada, living on state benefits who is infatuated with our leader. A case of unrequited love? Things always look better from a distance, don’t they.Perhaps more prayer may help to to make her disappointments more bearable.
Dictatorship is alive in Dominica!!! When will you guys realize that this guy is sinking this country into poverty and making everyone rely on the government. The Government is the biggest employer in Dominica. Communism is alive and well in Dominica!!!
If communism was alive in Dominica you would not be even be to write this comment so shut up
Help them to get jobs.
i myself doh even talking. out u go. out u go
He is already there he will stay stay on Skerrit
That’s pure rubbish everything in Dominica is pull string imagine in that lil NEP initiative there’s pull string some don’t have no qualifications but they start benefiting from the program. High time mr Skerrit do things properly.. These jobs are not sustainable they are jobs to bribe the youths in voting u bcuz they have a lil 6 months jobs after election they will be neglected.. Young ppl open up yall minds mr skerrit is fooling u all don’t be fooled do the right thing on election day… Vote him OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is a start for them. They need the experience. Experienced people did not build Dominica. No country was for that matter.
National Construction projects are being awarded to the Chinese construction Co. by no other than Skerritt and his incompetent DLP Govt. Projects that local Dominicans could do.
Imagine Skerritt borrow $27,000,000.00 from China, Dominicans have to pay back that money, but the money goes to the Chinese workers and construction Co.? Whose fools are Dominicans? How could so many Dominicans allow one man and so few cabalists to treat them with such disrespect and utter contempt?
Many construction workers have to sit by unemployed and watch their Govt. give jobs to Chinese instead of employing locals. What is really stupid about that is we who have to pay the loan back, oui? My people, we cannot afford to be so uncaring, foolish and wicked to our own.
On top of that PM again signing loan for Chinese to get money to build their hotel in Public Works area. WE have to pay for that loan too, but the Chinese will be awarded the jobs to build. The loan will not be for us, the land is not ours, and the hotel is not ours, but we have to pay back. What madness. Whose fools are we, I ask again?
What about the hundreds of jobs lost by rural folks in the agricultural sector? Communities are dying because of that incompetent, lazy PM and DLP Govt.
That same PM talking about jobs now? the private sector businesses that have developed their business, not you PM? Election gimmickry. How sustainable are those part-time stints?
I am so happy that we are being delivered from under the vicious and cruel rule of Skerrit and his cabal.GOD IS ALIVE!
What a presumptuous person. Are you sure? Can you see and know the future and what is in store?
trickle-down economics does not work
Over the years the Labour Party led by this Prime Minister is primarily about…
Deception, Lies, Spinning issues, thinking small.
Excited with little or nothing,catching a vote Governance,not being open to the citizens.
Labour breathes and enriches the dark elements of Life it’s a spell twister Monster which needs Spiritual faith alongside tough action to devour This man made Monster which has devastated Dominica…
need to clear my throat…..am i still living in the stone age….
Venezuela to fund NEP aspects..so how on earth does that justify a viable way forward, in terms of employment, this is simple a election tool to trap those ignorant and naive folks…last min Bling…
the Prime Minister thinks everyone in Dominica is “FOOLISH” period…
Does he understand what sustainability is?
So how does that cause a spur in the local economy when it’s the Government paying on both fronts in terms of the employer and employee…
the Juvenile leader needs to understand that the citizens of dominica are dead broke…
doing that is short term, as the funds will run out he can’t got to Venezuela all the time to run the NEP..
So the Juvenile leader needs to understand that once citizens can’t purchase goods and services the outcome of what he is doing will be Zero, no spin off at all..
Again it’s Dominica..known as the Fools Paradise!
Venezuela funding this? Just now we are hearing two people got killed in protests in that country by their young students because of the their worsening economy, shortages of basic items and chronic shortage of U.S.$. Your own people suffering and you spending precious hard currency on a little republic in the Caribbean sea for job creation? You mean Venezuela cares more about us than their own? That does not make sense to me. Or could it be that Skerrit is using the profit generated by our own Dominica Petroleum Co. and high electricity cost to claim that he is using Venezuela money indirectly? These politicians foxy you know.
I really do not know what is the prime minister beating his chest about, I don’t get it. After 14 years in office u have been unsuccessful at creating decent sustainable jobs and you trying a scam on these young job seekers and you are proud of that…. What a shame boy!
they need CCJ to bend the truth and shift the goalpost.
Vidal what ccj have to do with the discussion??
To subvert the truth of course Joe. Why else join the CCJ unless it is beneficial for them to influence judgements.
I am still waiting for someone to point out what did the UWP did for Dominica when they were in power from 1995 – 2000?
I live in the UK but come home to D/A on a number of occasions including when the UWP were in power.
I am struggling to name one meaningful initiative that was implemented for the betterment of D/A when they were in power.
Now everyone is going on about the UWP like they only have to wave a magic wand and all of D/A’s problems will be solved.
The truth of the matter is; whoever is elected will to, and have to go with their begging bowl to ask for aid.
D/A is not financially self reliant and sustainable, so where the hell do you expect the money to come from.
Those of you who think that the UWP is going to be the messiah that the country has been waiting for, will be in for a rude awaking.
It is all well and good coming out with all these unrealistic ideas, but the nature of the beast is,if you do not have the financial means to finance these projects, then it is not worth the paper it is written. FACT.
At least the Prime minister is making efforts to find the money from somewhere to finance projects.
When the UK Conservatives or Labour comes out with a distinctive initiative; they justify to the country from what means or source the money is coming from to finance their projects. This is not rocket science.
So my Question to the UWP is: If you want the people of D/A to vote you into power, and you have no intentions of seeking foreign help to finance your project; considering that D/A is a very poor country; from what means or source do you intend to generate financial sustainment to move the country forward?
I SAY IT IS BETTER THE DEVIL YOU KNOW.
And I say, no devil at all! Isn’t that what our churches are preaching?
This employment program is very bias no youth from the communities clarified as workers are getting any jobs only those with labor connections are getting the interviews calls … Time for Skirret to go we tired of these scams to win election we need real jobs
ok mr p m you are having N E P going on now ,thats good need more that ,you say want the young ppl to stand up one more you should think about is the land for houses ,not all need 5,000qft to have a roof, so have money in no roof
That programme is bias since it was announced at the stadium I I sigh
Lol!!
Boy you have guts we pm! How long you going to have those people employed to stimulate the economy? By what yard stick are you measuring the success you alluding to? Don’t you think the program would be more successful if that money was place in the hands of local entrepreneurs or investors rather than boosting the work force of business places without they expending a cent?
There are too many of you who comment on this Website who are negative. You have absolutely nothing educational to state and to offer that others might learn. Your aim should be to teach and encourage; not the opposite.
What type of people are you in matters of godliness and encouragement? For God’s sake! You are too negative and discouraging. Is this the type of mind you possess? Sad for you and woe to you!
Be it a few of them who are employed through NEP initiative, it will stimulate the economy. Why? I expect that what they earn will assist them and they will be paying their fair share of income tax. Every national who is employed should pay their fair share of income tax. In the end, this initiative will pay for itself.
In addition, they are able to amass experience which will serve them well in another enterprise, should they, in time, obtain employment elsewhere. This is only the beginning of better things to come and a good future for them.
UWP to my knowledge was in power for little less than 1 term. These guys are in govnmt for almost 3 full terms and you want to tell me this NEP is how they can creat job for people. One cannot be serious. These guys are enriching their pockets in way never seen in Dominica before. They were civil servants 14yrs ago and most of them are millionairs and multi millionairs today… the Question is How? Dominica is not benefitting from this regime, instead they have created a dependency and If you live in the UK you will know how degrading this can be for some people.this devil being unmasked need to be distriyed. Change is a must…
the question is how long is this going to last? and when does Skeritt intend to stop walking around with a cup causing the people of Dominica to look like paupers? his begging causes him to be a brown nose. Never mind his bosts in front of a micrphone about how better Dominica is compared to other island in the region. Did this job for young oeople come around becaues of the promise made by the U W P to put people to work>
Keep asking instead of putting on your thinking cap and criticizing. This is all some of you ever do. You will get nowhere.
The government has opened the door for these young persons. It has offered them a leg up, an opportunity that they did not have before. The principal question must be what will the apprentice do with this opportunity NOT how long this “leg up” will last. After all, according to you, the government should stop offering such help. (Re-read your post.)
As for your comment about the DLP going loco over the UWP’s joke of 7000 jobs in 3 years, the PM said it best: “’This is not a pie in the sky offer; this is not the figment of anybody’s imagination; this is not about words.’” The major difference between what this administration has been doing since 2000 and the UWP’s promises is that to date, the UWP CANNOT show you conclusively and logically how it will create these jobs.
However, PM Skerrit has delivered so far. Now, doh touffay. Just sit back and celebrate our victories because they are for the people of Dominica, for ALL of us not just for PM Skerrit.
Skerittt can fool people like BogoRoy as much as he wants but not the people of Dominica. How can the initiative bear fruits when he cannot tell us how many employers has confirmed they will hold on to these young people after the programme is over. It is a six to nine months free money to the business places who are suffering with their payroll accounts, in nine months it is back to Battam. Skeritt has not created any new jobs with the programme.
One correction Bogoroy. UWP said 5,000 jobs in 3 years and not 7,000 jobs. I heard it with my own ears. They are not boastful but will be very happy if it is more than 5,000. Don’t try to change the historical record for you to attack it later. They say elephants have long memory but believe me, a human wronged never forgets!
Call the election Skerro. It’s time to dump you.
You lack intelligence.
Honestly, I hope the Lord punishes you for your ignorant, etc. words. You cannot see what is good in this initiative and the fruits of it that some of your fellow people, no matter which Party they support are employed and are getting paid for their livelihood. It is obvious that you do not want what is good for them. Do you see what a wicked heart you have?
Be careful what you request. Remember what ROn asked for in 2009? And…..do you remmeber what he got?
Ron Green is no Lennox Linton.
Be careful what ask for hope you eh put your foot in your mouth
Long live Skerrit!! The peoples choice for tomorrow! Viva
Now dat’s the spirit!
Are they not employed for 1 year? then what?
Skerrit should wait for the year to finish before he start taking credit
This credit and criticism of it is all in your mind because you do not support him.
They are employed, supposedly for three (3) months……and will be paid six (6) after that.
Is so we run things…….
Desperate men ….do desperate things…..
This government is dangerous to people of Dominica
the man who don’t tell the truth to the young people if is one thing i would like u to no this same program was in st.kitts and did not come through so stop playing in the mind of the young people
Well my friend it is back again in St. Kitts. This time employing over 3,000. Election is due any time in St. Kitts. Believe me,once election is over it is done. I feel sorry for the less fortunate who are abused and taekn advantage of. We were deceived into slavery believing we were been taken to sonewhere better. This continues to happen to black people. The leaders of this scheme are having a good laugh as they its cancerous effect. But one day the conscience of the poor wil be awaken. Free at last
Oh I hope that 7 millions is not calculated for next general election I hope more funds will poured to sustain this program.
I hope this program is not only to lead for next general election,I am happy for those benefiting from this program.
its until $7 million is totally distributed. when it is finished. everyone goes back to un employed.. $7M could be used for a real sustainable business.. that could employee 100 forever is instead of 262 for a few months.
no ideas Skerrit get out already
Well done to the government for such a brilliant initiatvie. It takes a leader with great foresight such as this present Prime Minister to create such initiative. Keep on striving for the development of our youth sir. Regardless of all the negative the BLUE people may come up with, and they will continue, we know that you and this government have our Dominica and its people at heart.. Congratulations once again to a job well done.
Skerrit, you say: ‘this is not a pie in the sky offer’. To me and anybody else who can think clearly, it is just that.
1. what’s gonna happen when the money has run out – after all this is not a scheme that has created permanent jobs, it’s about the government subsidising short term jobs to the tune of 100% ?
2. the private sector that has taken some of the people has only taken them because it does not cost them anything; the minute the government does not pay them anymore they will be asked to leave. Where will they work then?
3. a 7million grant from the government of Venezuela??? I do not believe this for one minute. Venezuela, since the passing of Chavez, is not that generous anymore towards Dominica. In particular since Dominica owes them a lot of money already and you never ever commented on the repayment default from some month ago. Why would a country grant another country money and that country can not even serve it’s original debts?
If I am wrong stand up in front of the people of Dominica and prove to them that a) you got a grant from Venezuela and b) that Dominica has not defaulted on it’s payments to Venezuela.
I suspect there will be silence from your side as always. So to summarise to me it’s just an election gimmick of a desperate PM.
Cease thinking and commenting negatively. By your comments, it appears that you want it to fail. You are not a just person.
think nep will save you when u had the uportunity to put dominicans to work u form the full now is nep nep nep
I am sick of some of you. Negative, negative, negative; always negative which leads to nowhere.
When last did you pray for your government, your country, nationals and for their progress including yourself?
greatyes achievments
1. NEP
2. Red Clinic
3. Toilet Revolution
I think that his greatest achievement is making so many people beggars in their own country,
Well, at least you are honest enough to recognise some achievements of this DLP adminsitration. This is a start.
I never thought in 2014 you would be like a beggar in the same way, manner and shape that you have reduced so many Dominicans.You are blowing your own trumpet, but we are hearing no sound. You seem to be scrounging for sympathy Mr Skerrit, but the electorate in large measure, has already made up their minds.
Your wicked, evil, brutal and dictatorial rule over our land is coming to an end, and how happy i feel!
Everyone with only HALF A BRAIN, CAN SENSE FEAR IN YOU, but we have had enough of your insults, arrogance and incompetence. You have reduced too many people to the rank of beggars.You have impoverished Dominica and Dominicans, while you and the gang have done FANTASTICALLY WELL.
You are imncapable of creating jobs.Dunce and incompetent men cannot advance a country.Learned men like
PRIMEE MINISTER LENNOX LINTON
DOCTOR THOMPSON FONTAINE
JOSHUA FRANCIS
RONALD CHARLES
ISAAC
BAPTISTE, etc, etc, etc. etc will create the jobs for the poor ones. Team Dominica is waiting at ‘slips’, for the electorate to ‘kick you out with contempt’, at the next election.
The longer you prolong it, the worse it is for you.
YOUR RED MACHINE IS STUCK IN NEUTRAL. I AM CERTAILNLY ELATED.
Gone are the days when you used to denegrate Honourable Prevost, Honourabel Ron Green, Honourable Eddison James.IT’S YOUR TURN NOW!!!!!!!HOPE YOU WILL BE MAN ENOUGH TO TAKE IT! LIES, CHEATING AND STEALING CANNOT EXALT A NATION. INSTEAD IT BRINGETH FORTH CURSE UPON A NATION!
It’s the Bible itself that says “””” Everything is for a season under the sun””””.
I CAN’T WAIT TO VOTE AGAINST YOUR CANDIDATE, WHOEVER HE/SHE IS IN MY CONSTITUENCY.
You in all your arrogance and pomp invited LENNOX LINTON INTO THE RING. He is there now.!!!!!
HOW LONG?
NOT LONG!
Did you write for the sake of writing as usual? Cease your complaints and negativism.
If anyone became a beggar they caused it. God gave everyone intelligence, a mind to think and to better themselves. He never said that they should depend on the government to assist them. You should know “God help those who help themselves” by being diligent in school, graduating and seeking legal employment.
In bygone years no one depended on the government. They found a way how well they could sustain themselves for their livelihood.
Today, those who receive assistance from the government should thank God including their lucky stars. They should not be demeaned or criticized for it.
You are in no position to criticize them. What have you ever done for your country, for others and for yourself? It is time to take a check of your overall attitude.
Cease putting pressure on the government and do something for your nation and nationals.
This initiative is like a scam on the eve of national election and we all smell a rat that vulnerable young people are being abused and taken for granted.
The scheme was deliberately planned to accommodated the retreating PM and the DLP who are now professionally challenged by Team Dominica Lennox Linton and the UWP. These young people, including the sons of some ministers are engaged in a programme for three months. Where was the government three years ago to grow the economy that these young people would be walking into paid employment now and not at he mercy of Skerrit and his lost for ideas government.
Young people take the experience, enjoy yourselves and disciplined yourselves that you do not fall into a trap of being used by this government. Please go earn for your self and do not be dependent on this government for handouts.
Blessings
skerrit what about the classification brought fwd by the Caribbean bank? You there giving away the national treasury money and on the other hand you have university grads earning a secondary school grad salary, you wicked, wicked, wicked man! Is high time you and your cabal go!
Little patience. It go happen this year self.
What happens when the grant is done. We need sustainable jobs for the youth.
When Skeritt tells us that 263 young people has been employed, it is that the employed people are paid by another employer besides Government.
I suspect that 262 figure plus the numbers rehired by clear harbor will add up to the 500 new jobs.
In all of your years in office you can now boast towards the end of your term in office that you were able to create 262 jobs
Hip hip hooray
Ok, let us play along….
At least you have credited the PM with 262 jobs. How many can you realistically attribute to the UWP (if you are aware of what life was like under its reign… Let me remind you that the UWP was kicked out of office by the majority of Dominicans even at a time that THEY said their policies made “paycheck meet paycheck”)?
Mr. Prime Minister, the youth of Dominica need SUSTAINABLE employment, not a modified version of your red clinic, because that’s what this is. This is essentially you putting cash in the pocket of some of them for a month – what happens after that? They go back on the block and hang out? IF you feel that those businesses where you placed those young people needed additional “bodies”, then what you could have done was to provide tax incentives for the businesses to employ these “bodies” on a long-term basis, not just for a month then they go back home. You have no ideas on how to run the country; no ideas whatsoever about what to do with the problems confronting the youth of our beautiful country. You need to get out of the way and let someone else with initiative and drive and the wherewithal to do the job, do it. For the sake of our country.
@warma Skerrit does not have teh brain to understand that.You are talking about a man who is mentally deranged now. Can’t you observe that he is literally begging now? HE KNOWS THAT HE WILL BE OUT SOON.
If Government employs/pays people to work in private business establishments, it is in effect extending the Civil Service. Think about it.
That’s a good start Mr pm..am all about the positive.The ppl of D/ca really need work..so be it red or blue I am for Dominica not party..I do vote but no one should know who u voting for..when it good say it good wen it bad let them know..
Can My neice apply for a job on the electoral commission so she can get an assignment to own an offshore bank for a day and then become the secretary of another Offshore bank. Eh Eh mi bel bagay