Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo during an interview on Thursday announced that some 8000 temporary jobs will be created countrywide, in the meantime the Government is seeking long term solutions to address the rising cost of living.
This initiative he regards is part of the $5b allocated in the National Budget. However, he noted that consultations are still ongoing to determine how the money should be spent.
“So you came into office with a net deficit of jobs of 35,000 and then they (APNU/AFC) shut down the country totally the last three months before the elections that also cause another 35,000 to 40,000 persons to lose their jobs. So you came into office with about 75,000-80,000 people unemployed, looking for employment.”
The Vice President earlier in the week announced the creation of 800 jobs in Pomeroon Supenaam (Region 2). He posited that these jobs would be on a part-time basis and only one person per family can apply.
Since that announcement, employment forms have been circulated online for persons to apply.
He said he hopes that this initiative can help residents to “cope” until they can “structurally change the job market.”
He explained that this adjustment is particularly important to persons outside of region three and four and incentivize private investment and job creation.
He posited that because of a lack of development in the other regions, one of the main challenges was that there was a shortage of skilled and unskilled persons.
This plan Jagdeo said is one of the long term solutions to help the country counter external challenges.
The PPP/C Government has committed in its manifesto to create a total of 50,000 jobs over the next five years.
The Vice President highlighted that the Government’s commitment to keeping the economy open has helped a lot of people to keep their job and also gain employment.
