Dominica launches youth employment programme

Saturday, February 7, 2004

ROSEAU, Dominica: Dominica's Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit Wednesday night launched a Youth Employment Service Programme which is expected to put scores of the island's young people to work, beginning March 1. 

The Dominican leader used his coalition administration's town hall meeting in the west coast village of Mahaut to reveal the EC$0.5M programme.

''I have approved half a million dollars that will go to a Youth Employment Service Programme so that we can employ our young people in Dominica, so come first week of March we shall have a programme to employ young people across Dominica,''

Skerrit added that: ''I have spoken to a foreign government who has pledged $300,000 to that programme so it can sustain the programme.'' 

Skerrit also pledged a EC$50,000 in assistance to students at the government-run Dominica State College. He stated that many had difficulties in buying text books. 

Tourism also came in for financial assistance from the recently appointed head of government who said EC$2.5M would be available to promoting the local industry this year. 

Skerrit disclosed that farmers would be better able to purchase fertilizers and other inputs after the government injects EC$500,000 in agriculture in the next few months. 

''Those of us who are farmers and heard the cries of farmers for inputs, both banana and non-banana farmers, your government is listening to you and is responding in a practical and tangible way as we shall make to you $500,000 for the procurement of fertilizers and inputs,'' he said. 

The ruling coalition of the Dominica Freedom party and the Dominica Labour Party from Sunday began observing their fourth anniversary in government with a week of activities. 

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