VP gives more part-time jobs to Region Five

Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo on Saturday, sawhundreds of residents turning out at the Paradise Community Centre Ground and Fort Wellington Drying Floor to capitalise on the government’s part-time jobs initiative which was extended to cater for an additional 1,000 persons in the region.

Dr Jagdeo spearheaded another outreach to the region to meet with the latest beneficiaries. It was noted that the Vice President had initially announced that 1,000 jobs would be made available in the region. However, due to an overwhelming number of applications, the decision was taken to provide more jobs.

VP Jagdeo pointed out that this is another demonstration of the Government’s commitment to creating employment and supplementing household income, in light of the rising cost of living. Dr. Jagdeo said that through this programme, which was also launched in Regions Two, Six and Ten, some 11,000 citizens are benefitting thus far.

It was revealed  that beneficiaries can work for 10 days per month in the respective government agencies and ministries and earn up to $40,000. However, to ensure a wide cross section benefits, only one person per household is allowed to register for the programme. The Vice President also called on the gathering to reject naysayers, clarifying that the only qualification for the job is to be Guyanese.

The VP explained that the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war have led to a major disruption in the supply chain, hence the rising commodity prices. Dr. Jagdeo noted that this is a global issue, which the government has, over the past 18 months, been working strategically to address.

The former president said the long- term plan is to create more permanent jobs for Guyanese which would require structural changes, pointing to the government’s co-investment programme. The VP said government will collaborate with private businesses to build call centres, factories and other facilities that can provide employment for thousands of Guyanese.

Dr. Jagdeo called on young people to take advantage of training opportunities for skilled labour in the oil and gas and other sectors. The VP also reiterated the call for persons to take advantage of the government scholarships being offered through the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL).

Further, it was revealed that the provision of 20,000 online scholarships is a manifesto promise, however, the VP recently expressed the administration’s decision to increase this number.