Information Technology Minister, Kelver Darroux, has fired at critics of the National Employment Program (NEP), saying that they are not interested in Dominican youth.
He said he views the programme as a platform for young people to gain experience and employment, and referenced the recently-revealed 2016/2017 National Budget, in which over $7-million allocated for the continuation of the NEP.
“In this financial year, over $7-million will be made available for the continuation of that program [NEP],” he said, at the media launch of the review of the National Youth Policy, on Wednesday. “And, those who have criticized this program, I will say publicly, they are not interested in our young people because the National Employment Program, what it does is that it provides the opportunity for young people to be engaged and then to move onto other things.”
The NEP was introduced in 2013. Through the program, unemployed people are placed in the public and private sectors. The government then pays the salaries of those employed.
Darroux stated that over 1,344 persons have been engaged in the NEP.
Meanwhile, Darroux boasted that the current Labour Party administration has made the largest investment in the island’s young people.
“The government of Dominica continues to remain committed to our young people, and this government has invested the most in young people, and I say that with no apology,” he said.
He went on to discuss the government’s “major investment” in youth, through a budget allocation of $1-million to the Dominica Youth Business Trust (DYBT) to facilitate entrepreneurship among youth.
“It is this government that has invested in the Dominica Youth Business Trust, and again in this financial year, we will be making available to the DYBT, an amount of $1-million—monies that will be specifically targeted at young people who have these innovative business ideas, to go through a training process, a mentorship process, and then to receive financing to set up and start up their own business,” Darroux remarked.
He also pointed to the government’s interest in sports among youth and announced that $600,000 will be used to have the sports facility at Massacre fully covered, to allow youth to engage in sporting activities in inclement weather. The sports facility at Stockfarm will also be fully renovated, at a cost of $5-million.
“All of this is to give young people an avenue where they can recreate, they can socialize, and they can exert that energy in a very friendly atmosphere,” Darroux said.
to be honest, I am currently employed under the nep and it is far better than the previous job I had. getting my money on time, social security is being paid. give jack his jacket. when it is good say so and when it is bad say so. they in penville cant complain………………….
While some of you lack appreciation for this program, there are many youths, right here in Canada and no doubt elsewhere in the world, especially in other big countries who would love to be enrolled in such a program and receive financial assistance, even when they obtained employment under NEP.
Those who are in the program receive money which is one of the conditions for enrolling in it and graduating, then for obtaining prospective employment. They do not have to give an account to the government for money received. They receive the money with no questions asked and can spend it as they feel like.
In this age jobs are difficult to obtain and suitable ones at that. The critics should be happy for the youths that they are occupied in this respect. Be happy for them and provide encouragement rather than your vicious critique and attack which depict wickedness of heart. Be encouraging; not discouraging. Love and Peace!
Some of you like to make comparisons between Dominica, and the more developed nations of the world. I happen to live in Europe, Germany, and England; I am familiar with the System in Denmark, I have never found any of those governments have people sitting on their behind giving them free money!
If one is on welfare, they are on welfare, until they find a paying job; you wrote there are youths in Canada who would be glad to be in such a program. You have confounded yourself talking nonsense, which you can’t resist making up. In America one cannot get anything from the welfare system unless they are disabled by some illness, completely illiterate, or due to old age.
And even at old age that will derive from SSI, and note that is different from social security. Nobody sit on their backside praying for a hand out from government, in Canada, America, or any place in Europe: Only in Dominica! In America the program is “from Welfare to work!”
One can only get general relief for…
Minister of Technology!
What type of technology do Skerrit Darroux, and the rest of the circus clowns posing as government in Dominica has to an extent there is minister under that title?
This man is talking about seven ($7,000,000.00) million dollars assuming to give to people to sit around serving no useful purpose, except warring the color red. If one divide 7,000,000.00/1,344 =5,208.33 per year, means each person receives approximately $434.00 per month; $108.00 per week.
Not enough to even buy food per week while they are sitting doing nothing! Talking about seven million dollars as if he is talking about a large amount of money!
Just another handout by Skerrit, down payment in bribes for the next election!
Darroux, shameless. That money should go into the treasury. Give the people who are working under that programme a social security card, so they can have some SECURITY for their future.
Social security, do your work. Get the government to contribute towards social security for those people for sustainable jobs. NEP my foot.
idk where you get your information from but NEP workers are paid via the smartstream accounting program of the Government of Dominica the same as all employees. They receive social security benefits and payments the same as all other workers. one of the minimum requirements for payment is a social security number
There will always bring critics, why are you blasting them for, take a hint from them instead. You all failing DA youths. No jobs
He is shameless,and seem to have an empty brain!!!
Clearly Mr Darroux is trying to convince us on something he has no knowledge about, they sat down and put a programme together without any proper planning; i want to speak about the kalinago territory where workers start working at 8.00 and at 10.00 to 10.30 they are all gone at home without any form of supervision. though, there are supervisors in place who comes to the council office sit there and put some records together and do not spend time along side of the workers, there is more dirty roadside full of grass than clear roads, while thousands of dollars are spent without any proper control. a total waste of money that goes out only for labour party supporters.
No CSEC results on DNO?
By contrast what the Government really should be doing is creating and regulating an enabling environment for Jobs to be created through the Private Sector… implement Policies like lowering taxes on operation (production, import, export, foreign investments) in prime economic sectors, so that more sustainable jobs would be created and monies will circulate through trade etc..are these people being trained appropriately to fill positions according to the direction of investments?
The primary responsibility of Government is to be regulator. It isn’t to create an illusions of jobs, especially short term stints..and worse to tout about it.
These ministers need to get objective, stop creating a welfare society. Time to listen to counsel..DA ppl used to be self reliant..
The NEP really should be about building SMEs and not about Politicians directly placing ppl in Jobs..This administration is like a very bad parent that refuses to correct their child for fear that the child would…
Where are our youth in sports in the region and at the Olympics? After sixteen years where are the facilities that would empower the youth in track and field. Unlike facilities built in St Kitts, St.Lucia and in Grenada. Where is the public Olympic swimming pool for youth to practice. The NEP on the other hand is a political ploy to keep the DLP power base. Where is the official end of year report on the successes and failures of the NEP program?. Where are the numbers who have succeeded from the program and how many of them are fully employed? Keller is the same as the other seventeen others in CABIINOT simply toeing the line knowing fully well what they say is not convincing.
This darroux is a foolish little boy. NEP stands for never ending poverty. Someone with this NEP from dlp can’t obtain a loan from the AID bank. In conclusion NEP isn’t employment!
Skerrit and the DLP cant fool anybody with that, the Olympics games are testemony to the neglect of youth under the DLP
The fact of the matter is, every government minister and a few very close friends of the DLP have gotten at list twice better off than they were in 2000, while the majority of us have gotten worse off and, the country has gotten far worse.
My problem with Darroux and the DLP is that I CANNOT see what they boasting about. Where is the visible evidence for all that boasting nou? Did Erika wash their evidence away? I mean if only these bunch of incompetent ministers and loud talkers had left Dominica just as they met it in 2000, I would understand their boasting because at list they would have preserved it and DA would still be the envy of the Caribbean. But they destroyed the banana industry, they destroyed copra, health, sports, tourism, local government, the well respected police department, public trust, the church, they destroyed our close relationship with the USA, just to name a few. Can they not see? Are they just trying to cover their wicked reign? What have they done? They built hotel but no tourist coming and hotels can’t be opened. Built Abatoir but no birds to kill and it can’t be opened. coffee plant but we not growing coffee and it can’t be opened, Night landing but even day landing has reduced…
But where he resurrect from nah…
N.E.P. = Nothing Ever Prospers
One day you critics will pay for your words. You criticize because you do not support the government. This is why you do. It is evident you and the other critics are biased.
Whilst NEP is a good programme it should not become a long term solution. There are young graduates in NEP for almost three years now. they are stagnant because they are unable to take loans because of their intern status. You cant build a house, buy land or anything of that nature. It is basically a disguised form of slavery. Ridiculous.
You stated some are in the program for three years now. Critics as you do not think before making such comments.
Are they complaining? You should know half a loaf is better than none.
You were not specific about what they are presently doing. Are they responsible people who are interested in obtaining employment or better employment?
If they are in the program they should be receiving financial assistance from the government or from the business owner they obtained employment with, be it temporary. This is also a stepping stone for them. They should not spend the money foolishly but put it to good use. Consider too, they do not pay tax on it. They may be able to save some money from what they receive.
Too often the government is blamed and the program is also criticized.
None of you never thank God for the NEP for learning a skill and receiving an income. You also do not thank the government. You are too bent on criticisms. Ungrateful people.
Kelvar brrrr,your tired and just and old record dude,all you guys can do is throw maypwee grow up.
For the NEP to seen as a legitimate and result oriented programme there must checks and balances. No one should be on the NEP perpetually. Persons employed as NEP are not Public Officers, they are not permanent employees. if these persons are in a programme, then the programme should have an end date. Some of these NEPs are paid by the state to do political tasks.
The NEP should not replace opportunities to give people Job security and tenure. There are too many areas where NEPs are being engaged in positions that Public Officers are to be employed. If the Government can continue to spend millions on this programme, lets hope they can also afford to Give Government workers a substantial raise soon.
We must be very careful with these programmes that play right into the approaches of structural adjustment and prescription of the IMF, Contractural and temporary employment. Remuneration without long term benefits!
When will the NEP programme end? Is it a Permanent Programme?
Kelva, I hope you read this message twice and comprehend before you go talking partisan nonsense again.
Your government is corrupt and crying out development when there is none asking place. You guys and your Pm are comical
You a perfectly correct when does the program have an end date , another thing persons in that program should not be used in the political schemes of things for the DLP party, I wonder how many non DLP supporters are in the program as we speak, so Mr. Darroux when the public questions the motives of you and the DLP you should not always jump and say they criticized for nothing stop believing that every thing you and your party or Government does or say is correct and no one should ask questions, Stop behaving like a spoil child. DOMINICA is all of us business and we have a stake in it’s development too.
Blasting, minister without portfolio from St. Joe; Hope you read and understand the interest of the Labor Government in the YOUTHS…. not like the OTHER ONE who said the youths ask for guns to shoot Haitians and Chines. …. Talk On The Bloc…. Matt and Canlie…” Names found in the cemetery”. Why are you so quiet on that one? Open the lines Matt and let’s take some phone calls on that one. Desperate people are doing DESPERATE THINGS.
Really? What is the investment in sports on the island, the Cadet Corp Program, the Scouts and the list goes on? The youth is neglected sir.
Darroux, you are a lightweight. What do you know about economics that produce real jobs and growth. Stick to what you know, little as it is.
stupes, allu really don’t know when to stay quiet
It’s a good initiative but I believe it should only revolve around the public sector. The government should have no hand in employment decisions in the private sector.
Another puppet stringed by the puppet master. Looks like he even wearing the puppet master hand me down. Why Critics of a policy is always about not caring for people and country? These guy is a waste of tax payers money. Kelver u need go educste yourself. Skerrit not a real Dr.
This young man always wears the same shirt. I hope he washes it sometimes! Stupes! He is only a student too! Too funny. No respect at all for the puppet of the puppet master. Get some respect for yourself dress in a proper fashion. Also do something to benefit your fellow Dominicans.
Darroux you should know better if you don’t then I would agree you must educate yourself, your Boss is not and cannot be addressed as Dr. Roosevelt Skerrit on any platform or stage you should know that. after all Kermit the frog have a doctorate did he study for it no and there are many other persons who have it, it’s like bestowing a tribute on someone and that’s a good gesture , but to imply other wise is lying to the nation especially to those persons who don’t understand the difference between someone like Dr. Thompson Fountain, Dr. Clayton Shillingford , Dr. Mc Intyre , Dr. IP and many others in Dominica they studied and obtain their title but your Boss did not so going forward correct yourself.
I have been sizing you up and I do believe you have much more to contribute but right now you a stuck suggest you take time off and go and do some very important studies come back refresh and ready to do some serious work for you country.
Is Darroux really residing in Dominica?
why i would never ever back labor dem wicked…so when the passport sales drop and it will…what will happen to these programs?
dominicans are not known to be smart lot…look at Venezuela see what happened with BAD GOVERNANCE!….dominica is on route for that..but the wicked ppl in DA including the dunce lot at the so call Task Force the government set up after Ericka, are weak and no good..if they were smart dominica would be leading in something…that’s how one judges a brilliant society,, what r the success stories in dominica..only zeros…and u seem dem man on TV full with foolish pride, but them all perish too..wicked lot………..