Jagdeo predicts post-pandemic, jobs creation boom

VICE PRESIDENT DR BHARRAT JAGDEO PREDICTS A POST-PANDEMIC BOOM
IN JOBS CREATION IN THE COUNTRY from explosive investments in the mining,
telecommunications, agriculture, construction and other key sectors.
Jagdeo made his forecasts during Friday’s local press conference where he reiterated his party’s
pre-elections promise of creating some 50,000 new jobs during the Peoples Progressive Party
Civic’s (PPP/C) 2020-2025 stay in office.
The Russian-trained economist told reporters “jobs are important and that is what we are
working on.”
He backed up his party’s new employment promises pointing to plans in savannah strengthening;
initiatives in indigenous communities; an explosion of call centres across the 216,000 Km 2 South
American Republic, and capital outlays in the nascent oil and gas (O&G) sector.
“The President spoke about strengthening the savannah that would employ another 500 people in
Berbice. We will be working with the Amerindians to make sure that we have the livelihood
programmes. We will also be trying to get more call centres going, everywhere there will be lots
of smaller initiatives as well, as the big one. There will be a lot more jobs in the oil and gas
sector. We are working on our promise of 50,000 jobs, we are working aggressively on it,” the
Vice President reassured.
Current analysis has determined that the Irfaan Ally administration “remains on track” to
fulfilling its oath to Guyanese, Jagdeo assured.
He blamed the David Granger APNU+AFC administration for the country’s current high
unemployment rate among its youths.
“Too many of our young people do not have jobs and you notice the people who are talking
about this, a lot of them are shedding crocodile tears because they have a good job and are

enjoying a good income. They are not interested in the young guy from Wales, Port Mourant,
Buxton and Linden who don’t have a job,” he said.
The Guyana Labour Force Survey in October 2020 reported the youth unemployment rate for the
first quarter of that year was pegged at 30.2 per cent, a slight bump from the 29.7 per cent the
previous year.
Unlike the government they have replaced, Jagdeo noted: “We have a duty as we said that we
will produce 50,000 jobs that’s in our manifesto.”
“I want to assure that we will do it with the least impact on the environment. We are going to
plant 6000 acres of mined-out lands and we have a promise that it will be funded within the
Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) that would see reforestation in many areas,” VP Jagdeo
told the local media.