Give young men a second chance

[Dr.Dudd]

ive young men a second chance
Observer Reporter
Friday, May 13, 2005

DAVIES... idle males can derail economic targets

MINISTER of Finance and Planning Dr Omar Davies, at an economic forum Wednesday, made a plea for young males to have a second chance, saying that otherwise they could do "serious damage" to the economy.

Davies did not specify whether he was making a plea for jobs as well as training, only that they should be given another opportunity to contribute productively to the economy.

His plea, though not worded as such, was for young men to be given an alternative to crime, which is estimated to be costing the country three per cent of GDP.

"There is a cohort of young men, who for whatever reason, have missed either their first opportunity or have never had that opportunity and that cohort has the potential to do serious damage to all the positives that could occur in the economy over the medium term," said the finance minister.

"Therefore, a focus has to be given to providing that cohort with a second chance."

Davies was addressing the Jamaica Money Market Brokers (JMMB)-sponsored discussion forum 'Economix 2005', Wednesday at the Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston, where he spoke on the topic of economic gains and the various socio-economic issues that had to be addressed.

The minister again pointed to jobs that are opening up as tourism investors build, saying that such projects might have to import labour, as Jamaica, despite large pools of unemployed, cannot supply the skilled workers required.

"We are going to have an interesting situation whereby, with all the expansion in construction, you will have a simultaneous problem where there are high levels of unemployment in that cohort and at the same time, you have a shortage of labour whereby the construction projects will have to import labour," said Davies.

Government's medium-term plan for education and training, must take cognizance of the need to address the special needs of that cohort, he said, to enssure that Jamaica is "producing from that education system, persons who can add value to the labour market".

Failure to address pressing social problems, he said to financial interests gathered at the forum, would haunt the country and derail economic progress.

[Wardob]

Re: Give young men a second chance

“Failure to address pressing social problems, he said to financial interests gathered at the forum, would haunt the country and derail economic progress”…. Omar

One thing I know and come to expect from Omar give him a glass or two of John Wray and Nephew and he will talk the truth, without a drop of shame. How can a senior Government Minister one if not the most powerful cabinet Minister be saying such a thing, did he just realize this after over 15yrs in Government? Who is he pleading to? Why isn’t he outlining programme to be implemented by his Government to cause and give the chance?

“His plea, though not worded as such, was for young men to be given an alternative to crime”
Couldn’t they see it coming?

It was not long ago I heard him (Omar) Portia, Peter Phillips and the PM, making all kind of promises to the young people of the Country, now after all the promises made the only thing accomplished by his Government is
“ Man have Nuff gal”

[barosa]

Re: Give young men a second chance

Originally posted by Wardob:

One thing I know and come to expect from Omar give him a glass or two of John Wray and Nephew and he will talk the truth, without a drop of shame. How can a senior Government Minister one if not the most powerful cabinet Minister be saying such a thing, did he just realize this after over 15yrs in Government? Who is he pleading to? Why isn’t he outlining programme to be implemented by his Government to cause and give the chance?

“His plea, though not worded as such, was for young men to be given an alternative to crime”
Couldn’t they see it coming?

It was not long ago I heard him (Omar) Portia, Peter Phillips and the PM, making all kind of promises to the young people of the Country, now after all the promises made the only thing accomplished by his Government is
“ Man have Nuff gal”


Right onn Wardob,... For fifteen years these guys have been at the control and the helm of Jamaica's GOVAMENT and neer a word was heard about the plight of the young youths, who all of sudden will be derailing the economy.

The question I'd like to ask the minister is, "why was their a failure to address those issues long before now?, and why is there still a failure, having known all along, that this would presents serious problems for the future of our nation?... Do you mean to tell us that it took 15 years of inaction on your part to muster up enough courage to tell Jamaica that you and the government were derelict in your duty to the youths and by extension, the nation?

All of a sudd'n dem start to reveal what dem know dem shud have been doing all allang!.. All of a sudd'n, dem wud like to distance demselves from di gangs, di garrisons, di corruptions and di political violence which they all spawned directly or indirectly!!... Well, to you, PJ, an other membas of your political GANG at Gordon House, you guys are late on track #9. Unno want fi close di barn door when all di hawses get wey! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

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Corruption is worse than prostitution. The latter might endanger the morals of an individual, the former invariably endangers the morals of the entire country. : Karl Kraus

[britisha]

Re: Give young men a second chance

True wuds...they are a day late and a dallah shaaaawt...yuh know, mi deh yah a membah when di word "apprentice" was a part of our jargon a yaawd. There were young fellahs who many times would accompany their dads to their jobs in the position of apprentices. When dem "hout school" and someone asked them what they were "doing" they would proudly say that they were apprentices.

Apprentice welders, apprentice cabinet makers, appentice printers, apprentice dis and dat, now dose days seem to be a thing of the past. Many of the fathers now don't have jobs, much less to have their children accompany to have their sons accompany them to learn. Wot a disgrace!! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img] .

..as for government's accountability, they owe it to these young people and the nation as a whole to see that they are prepared to earn honest living[s] or as the article stated, they will resort to making it dishonestly.

Where are government's incentive[s] to businesses to grant them certain "perks" like tax write-offs if they train young people even for a stipend? Or better yet, provide a small wage [by government] while they earn as they go..the higher the level of skill attained, the more dollars paid out to these learners?

Wi baawling dat dere are no jobs, but while this is true, government needs to look into this and have some training programmes in place..be it ofice skills, medical technology, education, BANKING..laawd knows we need it here... etc etc han di jab training, if you ask me..after they have accomplished certain skills, grant those who can become entrepreneurs loans at reduced rates to open their own business and not only give them the feeling that they have accomplished something worthwile, but plant the seed for further growth economically....but nooo..all we hear are, promises, promises, promises ...ppl can't give promises to their landlords when they want their rents, nor to the supermarket when they go there to get food..mi nevah hear of nobaddie whey live pan promises odda dan the politrixians.

..as far as I see it, disyah govahment no give wan dammn about the young ppl, male and female..now dem talking of building more prisons, they better reserve some of that fund to train their young generation to become productive members of the society; bout them a import foreign labour fi duh manual labour, put them hup innah big house fi live, den dem tek di monie houttah di countrie and fi wi poor young men and women siddung a stret karnah, or a kick stone innah di hat sun....this is the biggest laugh of the century...dem shuddah shame wot a blastid disgrace!! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]