T&T Gov't launches multi-million dollar employment scheme

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – The Trinidad and Tobago government Tuesday launched its multi-million dollar 20,000 new jobs initiative mainly within low income and underprivileged communities, with Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar indicating it is part of the ongoing battle to deal with criminal elements in the country.



“My government has taken a broad perspective on the issue of national security, public safety and the vulnerability of young people to crime. We promised decisive action in these areas and we have demonstrated the courage and commitment to do so,” she said at the launch of the “Colour Me Orange” project.



She reiterated that the state of emergency (SOE) which came into effect on August 21 and the accompanying five hour curfew, which has since been lifted, “have been bold initiatives that showed the political will this government has in doing what is necessary to ensure the nation is safer.



“And everyone knows today by the drastic reduction in crime, the apprehension of many criminals, gang leaders and drug lords and the confiscation of weaponry and ammunition, the state of emergency and curfew have produced dramatic, positive results. But today is a further demonstration that our war on crime runs deeper than that.”



She said that earlier this year, the Ministry of National Security had launched the National Youth Mentorship Programme, with the express purpose of providing solid guidance to vulnerable young people and in September, the government launched the “Making Life Important” programme aimed at restoring “ faith in the sanctity of human life and respect for one’s physical environment.



She said this latest initiative designed to “breathe new life into the heart of our most troubled communities’ will use community members to regenerate and restore their neighbourhoods, adding the “e initiative is one of vibrancy, it energises a new positive direction”.



She said that 20, 000 young people will be employed over a three month period to refurbish Housing Development Corporation (HDC) rental units at five facilities on the island.



“Conceived as a grass-roots work programme, Colour Me Orange allows the HDC to respond quickly and effectively to local requests from the community for works and repairs on HDC estates.



“Not only is the intent of this programme to provide employment in low income communities; but moreso to offer skills training to our young people who may not have previously been able to access the basic but necessary skills which support self-sufficiency.”



Persad Bissessar said her administration is intent on reversing the days of “quick fix, hand outs that take you nowhere.



“I want to give you a hand up instead into a future of self-determination. The problem in the past I believe is that no-one was listening with their hearts. I believe there was an absence of compassion and true concern for the daily struggles and sense of hopelessness that so many of you endure,” she said.



“Colour Me Orange is an initiative whose time is long overdue. And it is but part of a much larger 300 million dollar employment initiative targeting young people which I announced last week. In what could be described as a State of Urgency the government is intent on ensuring every young person in the so called “at risk” communities are given every opportunity possible for making a better life for themselves,” she added.



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