Justina Charles urges youth to take advantage of opportunities

Justina Charles has urged young people to take advantage of opportunities. File photo

Youth Minister Justina Charles has called on young people on the island to take advantage of the opportunities that are made available to them.

She was delivering the featured address at the 45th graduation ceremony of the Youth Skills Training Programme held at the Goodwill Parish Hall on Wednesday.

One hundred and fifty-four young people graduated from the programme consisting of 67 males and 87 females.

Training was given in computer literacy, sewing, electrical wiring, agriculture, auto mechanics, auto body repairs and cosmetology.

Charles told the graduates that sometimes the opportunities are there but they are not embraced.

“Tomorrow we hear some of these very young people say there is no job, we are just sitting by the road and there is nothing to do. But did you avail yourself to the opportunities and did you take advantage of the opportunities that were before you?” she remarked.

Charles advised the graduates to encourage each other, adding that life is not always easy and sacrifices have to be made.

“You have to make up your mind to lose certain things, to earn what you want for the betterment of yourself,” she stated.

Charles added that a number of young persons have been employed under the National Employment Programme (NEP) that many have criticized.

“But this is the opportunity to prepare yourself and to work yourself into permanent employment,” Charles stated.

She explained that that very often when people apply for a job, the first things that are requested are qualification and experience.

“Where are the young people getting experience if they just come from college?” she queried. “Where are they getting the experience if they just came from secondary school. You’re just coming from University, where are you getting the experience? Yet they are requesting that they are requesting that you walk with experience.”

Charles said programmes like the NEP and the Youth Skills Training Programme give people the experience to put on their resume.

The Youth Skills Training Programme focuses on specific skills in an effort to meet the job market demands and to encourage self-employment among young people in Dominica. Permanent and part-time employment has been obtained by a number of young people who were recently trained.

 

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35 Comments

  1. dissident
    October 13, 2018

    Like NEP??????
    My lady all ah we not DOTISH!!!!!!!

  2. Ou fou compere
    October 12, 2018

    Blows & more blows on JC.

  3. Ya
    October 12, 2018

    Hi Mrs. Charles. Hello. Are you there?

    Reality Check: In case you did no know, these days the FIRST requirement asked for in applying for a job is the QUALIFICATION. In fact many person will testify to losing out on jobs because they don’t have the qualification.

    • Jheri Curl
      October 15, 2018

      Justina is NOT qualified
      but that’s a different discussion

  4. itsibitsi
    October 12, 2018

    there is no hope for young ppl in DA, maybe your children benefiting….

  5. Channel 1
    October 12, 2018

    ….. yeah, the youth should take advantage of the upcoming opportunity to vote you and your backward DLP government out of office.

  6. Mr. Ben Dover
    October 12, 2018

    Justina why doesnt the government take advantage of the opportunity of the urgent need to develop sports education and training facilities for the youth? You are the minister for sports. Bring back the multi sports complex facilties like what windsor park used to be instead of storing building materials that are used as elections bribes. The youth need SAFE areas to play and release their stress. Why do you think so many have turned to the tmaxx, big gold chain lifestyle?

  7. Your auntie brother
    October 12, 2018

    What happen to your Pierre Charles Foundation? So much noiseyou made to announce that and nothing since then.Was it just a way toaccommodate money tax free? Who benefut from that?

  8. jamie
    October 12, 2018

    What opportunites?a government that buys the people,Justina,KARMA!!!

  9. viewsexpressed
    October 12, 2018

    “………………………to take advantage of the opportunities that are made available to them.” Justina, please stop attempting to lure us the youth to your propaganda empty promise BS. What opportunities Justina are you taking about. Where are the markets, where are the tools, where are the business places, none, and you come up wanting to insult and criticise the young people for you failure and that of your corrupt labour government.
    Justina, this is an insult and you must apologise to the young people of Domininca and Now. Here is your ugly insulting, insinuating propaganda statement: “Tomorrow we hear some of these very young people say there is no job, we are just sitting by the road and there is nothing to do. But did you avail yourself to the opportunities and did you take advantage of the opportunities that were before you?” she remarked.
    For 18 years, your failed faked government in power has ignored the youth, with you all flying all over the world at states…

    • 💕U 💕
      October 12, 2018

      Views Expressed that’s the views of a small and narrow minded person like%. Today our youths needs encouragement guidance and role model like Ms. Charles. I also take offense by the person, who was raised by a pack of wolves to refer to the LADY as Justina, very very shameful, disgusting and disrespectful. Is that the person who wants to be our leader in future? Remember views expressed you were rejected by the voters, since then your smare campaign has been DOA, dead on arrival. Learn values and morals in respecting people even though they don’t share your political ideology.

      • Mr. Ben Dover
        October 13, 2018

        U…that is the real reality of the situation. People like you like to paint a picture like everything is nice and bright. Well maybe it is bright for people like you who have their noses so far up the behinds of the politicians you cant even tell the difference between the coffee or the roses or the load of manure you all like to believe. In truth, many of you all remind me of Trump supporters. Delusional and soutiway.

      • Me
        October 13, 2018

        Oh you pathetic being. Wasn’t she christened Justina? The sweetest sound for anyone to hear is their own name.

      • viewsexpressed
        October 14, 2018

        U, I leave others to judge and critic and dismiss you ridiculous unsubstantiated expense, if that is what “U ” with to call. Stop walking in your sleep and open your eyes to lack of jobs and enthusiasm taking place in our poverty island, created by your failed inept Skerrit and your corrupt labour government. They have failed us, our youth, our leaders, and those in need of josh and decency in government. LABOUR ARTY IS A FAILED AND CORRUPT Government if you dome believe us, go t Skerrit and ask him about “Go to hell…Go to Hell…None of his damn business”. he is a failed PM, the worse in the Caribbean. He has killed Domininca, he must Go. Get Lost

  10. Senator Ben Dong
    October 12, 2018

    They will say the government is not working steadfastly to better the lives of our young people and I disagree! The DLP has been unblocking avenues for young persons to be successful. Keep up the good work Skerrit, Petter and Justina! #ILoveMyCountryAndMyGovernment

    • Neville
      October 12, 2018

      You are a proper DONG!

    • viewsexpressed
      October 12, 2018

      “Keep up the good work Skerrit, Petter and Justina! #ILoveMyCountryAndMyGovernment” Lol…Keep up the good work Skerrit my foot. !! What work it is? The investigation to be conducted on the Bin Bobol and the Fertilizer Bobol? All you silly Skerritites trying to hide and deny that states funds were abused and misused according to the financial schedules for purchase and order. the Protocal was broken, therefore it falls under the category o fraud and misappropriation of states funds. It is thievery in bright day night. If it was a worker at any of Dominica`s business places they would be fired and the fraud unit of the Police Force would be called to arrest. When will the police be called then to walk up the steps of the Financial Centre? The rich and famous get away and the poor and unemployed are arrested. So is the law today?
      We need an enquiry of the role of the Finance Minister and those who have engaged in Bin Bobol and Fertilizer Bobol. Protocal has been broken, please…

    • viewsexpressed
      October 14, 2018

      Idiotic, blind nonsense. Go try again. Go open your eyes, walk about Roseau and go ask each of the 18 ministers what their respective , individual salaries are?
      we are a failed country, and Skerrit has killed. Go open your eyes and read and ask before you go making a fool of yourself on social media. The company you keep are all corrupt.

  11. viewsexpressed
    October 12, 2018

    Justina, please stop making us feel sick inside with your silly, nonsensical talk. You have not been recognised as pillar of hope for our young people. You have not been guided well. Mainly, its Skerrit’s fault. Our Bro. Pierro was Leader of then National Youth Council (NYC) extremely popular as the NYC of Dominica serving every youth group in Domininca. Our youth today are visionless because you and your failed Skerrit has failed them due to poor leadership, lack of vison, lack of opportunities and the only people who has benefited from Dominica in the past 18 years are you and failed ministers. 18 of you and those who have prostituted and continue to prostitute of passports, our birth right. Where does this money go, who has the money? Well it is not to the benefit of the young people. Oh shut up please Justina and go ask Skerrit where is the money to upgrade the skills and passion of our youth. Justina, what have you and corrupt Labour government done lately for our crying Youth.?

  12. Paul Rossnof
    October 12, 2018

    Never in my life have I heard more nonsense than the utterings of this woman. What ‘opportunities’ exactly are you talking about?? As far as I can see there are hardly any apart from those that are specially created by your master in the civil service for children of known labour supporters. Stop trying to fool the youth of this country with your propaganda. The Skerrit administration has failed the youth of this country miserably!!

  13. they shall know.
    October 11, 2018

    Why don’t you tell the young people to look for opportunities outside of Dominica like you are now doing.

  14. October 11, 2018

    Some of us are suffering from Entrepreneurial Myopia; meaning that we may have a desire to venture into a certain profession but thinks it is below our dignity; we have sight but no vision. especially if persons castigate us about that profession. Two brothers in my village of birth in St. Kitts said they wanted to be fishermen when the students were asked in High School what they wanted to be when they grow up, and the whole class started laughing. Even the teacher said a fisherman, come on, why not a doctor or a lawyer? Anyway, they were not deterred and they become fishermen; later on they build a restaurant by the sea in the village; today the restaurant is one of the most popular places to dine on the island. Locals and tourists flock to the place. And the good thing about it, they catch their own fish, enough to sell in the restaurant and sell to hotels. Now they own their own houses and have built other rental properties. So don’t just sit on the corner and wait for something…

    • Kali
      October 12, 2018

      While I completely applaud the sentiment of your post, what is missing here I think is that acknowledgement that those two brothers had the advantage of a country with a relatively healthy economy in which to build their business. As you note in your example, their humble restaurant flourished and is now a popular dining venue – this only works in a country where locals can actually afford to dine out and visitors are flowing in to patronize.

      If those two brothers built that same restaurant in Dominica today, it would likely be shut down within a year or two, because the majority of locals can barely afford to eat at home, let alone dine out, and there are not enough visitors to the island to sustain any business. So it really does all come down to context and environment.

  15. Ou fou compere
    October 11, 2018

    A friend of mine in NJ,USA was briefing me about a Meet & Greet with the so call DA’s P.M with R.Skerrit Douglas. All he was advising “Buy land ,buy land”

    Now here’s “Youth Minister Justina Charles has called on young people on the island to take advantage of Migration opportunities that are made available to them.” “many of you left after our last to major hurricanes.”” I have my green card”

  16. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    October 11, 2018

    Justina, what sort of opportunities are you talking about?

    There are no opportunities in Dominica for the youths graduating high school or from the two year collage. And even if you all use some passport money to send them to Cuba, and China to obtained second class and ancient training in Chines teachings, when they return, whatever they were taught are only good for Dominica.

    Their degrees are not accepted in the modern word. Perhaps you should ask Roosevelt what he has done with the millions of Dollars the Government of Mexico gave to him to build the Hospital in your village of Marigot where you belong.

    Remember you were born and met one there?

    Roosevelt made it decay!

  17. Red Ants bite
    October 11, 2018

    Boy that woman can make my late friend Pierre Charles feel bad and turn in his grave eh. She telling graduates to take hold on f the opportunity but not one opportunity she identified. Where are the opportunities Justina? At the call center! If so why not say so. Then she jumps on NEP and ties it up to experience needed for the job and how some criticising NEP. Justina, do you realize NEP was only introduced here just before the 2014, elections, after the bajan pollster stressed the importance of getting young people employed? How did Dominicans get their work experience before NEP? Where did you get your experience since their was no NEP when you got into nursing? Do you realize that your late husband was PM and there was no NEP? Who is employing in Dominica these days nou? You, Skerrit and the DLP forced real employers to run out of Dominica and those Chinese that coming in come with their employees. All you just need to pack and leave because you all destroyed Dominica.

  18. October 11, 2018

    The Minister has made some excellent points about work experience. People have to start somewhere. When looking for a job fresh out of any school, always be willing to take a job even if it is not in your field. Getting in the door of the job arena is most important. When I graduated with my Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science I took a volunteer job in an organization’s mailroom and I was heavily criticized by friends, relatives and by my other half at the time. I was still actively looking for a job, but my other half continued to be critical of me for volunteering in a mailroom. She said I was wasting my talent, but I kept on volunteering. What none of us could see at the time was a huge opportunity for a Teaching Job and a handsome salary. After six months volunteering, the director called me in his office and told me that there was a part-time teaching position in the evenings at a nearby Community College and he had recommended me for the position. I went for the interview and…

    • Anonymous
      October 12, 2018

      Was that your experience in Dominica or overseas? Be honest.

    • viewsexpressed
      October 15, 2018

      Jdorn, please be quiet. with your rubbish blind talk. The minister has made some excellent talk My foot. Go to hell. Go to hell and talk to Skerrit how he has damaged and ruin our nature island. This |Labour government is a fake and corrupt to the bone, don’t bring our youths into your naughty corrupt circle. They are innocent unlike your corrupt government they are guilty. too Bobol to uncover. Skerrit must Go.
      Got to hell, it is all you Blind labour people have Skerrit so. You al are not role model, because your champion is this blind Skerrit of yours. Skerrit must Go, as he says, Go to Hell, Go to Hell, it is non of our business. Thats where he belongs.

  19. Grandbay
    October 11, 2018

    LOl , so as soon as Skerro leave the island all of all you have mouth!! When the cat is away the mouse will play!

  20. Da
    October 11, 2018

    Please give me a break with your hypocrisy. You all have destroyed Dominica and our youth cannot trust the DLp anymore with their future.

  21. Massacre
    October 11, 2018

    Are you serious Justina? With all the opportunities that your Gov’t has taken away from the youth of Dominica over the past 18 years , what do you want them to grab at? Wind?
    DLP met 3 fully functioning hospital when they took over , now we hardly have a good clinic if we can call it that!
    The JSP was thriving so kids could leave school with a skill and education , you all have killed that too. DLp has not given our young lids anything to have hope for. So excuse yourself and go home.

  22. %
    October 11, 2018

    Now that you are leaving you are concerned about youths? I walked down the Lalay yesterday,and every 9 out of 10 Grandbarians are saying that they do not want you as parl rep again .Many of them gave me reasons… And they are good reasons ..Some gave me the names of those who will be vying to replace you,whether you like it or not .You are rather late with your love for the youths.
    Good Riddance!!!!!!!
    Skerrit Must Go
    Skerrit Must Go
    LAZY Skerrit Must Go Now

    • Me One
      October 12, 2018

      Get a life % and views expressed, become a contributing member of society. Do something constructive besides being an angry OLD Frat! On a daily basis we are being bombarded by your negativity and still cannot propose one positive solution. What a bitter personality you have. The worst part Roosevelt Skerrit has managed to live in your head Rent Free day after day, no wander you are bankrupt of new ideas.

      • viewsexpressed
        October 14, 2018

        Lol…lol.. Me One, who n earth are you and what do you stand for. I am at the heat of tis clowinsh corrupt Labour government, we see daily from the government offices the disdain exhaled of Skerrit’s failed leadership and corrupt government. Now, if you are in denial, I am not because you link on personality of a failed Skerrit and we the patriots link of the reality of a Bobol government that you know of, but in denial. the thievery of states funds and the weakness and in having employment for our young people. Justina is a big failure and Our Comrade Brother Pierro is in shame of this corruption practised everyday by these corrupt Labour clowns of your. There is nothing you can update me of this corrupt Skerrit government, because I, we have first hand information. Skerrit is a failure, he must Go. He is useless.

        “Go to Hell, Go to Hell it is none of your Damn Business” This is the documented saying of your failed PM, not intelligent enough to be a Prime Minister. Shameful,

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