Unemployment threatens to drown Region Ten youths

THE RISING TIDE of unemployment coupled with expanding social ills is threatening to
drown Region Ten youths crying out for Central Government to cast straws in their direction.
Nursing student, Janaala Lacon, 20, sums up the mood of the young in her community: “My
appeal to the government is to reach out to us the youths to assist. I guess because of the limited
opportunities many people are very desperate to find employment (and) are forced to endure
certain challenges in their pursuit of employment.”
She is distressed by the limited employment opportunities available to Upper Demerara-Berbice
(Region Ten) youths but is grateful she was able to sneak into healthcare.
The Half Mile, Wismar resident explained the sudden death of her grandmother at 50 is what
stoked her fire for healthcare. She will graduate next year.
Azimul Lewis, 22, echoed Lacon.
“We really need more opportunities and the government should forge ahead with development
despite the challenges that they may face from people within the Region. As a young man, I am
forced to hustle because there is nothing (else) to do,” the Half Mile resident said.
Jamal Thomas, 21, another Half Mile resident, is himself bothered by the abundance of idleness
among young Linden residents.
“We have too many limers. The truth is that several of them are qualified young people but have
no employment. I am hurt seeing this every day when I go to work because these people can
contribute meaningfully,” Thomas emphasised.
Teenager Kimbely Blison, 19, is hurt by the bourgeoning joblessness and underemployment
affecting youths have been strangling potential in the sector.

“Many young people are forced to believe and operate a certain way because the opportunities
are very limited. As such, whatever is thrown at them they are forced to take it because they have
limited or no options,” said Blison of Amelia’s Ward.
Aspiring educator Shawn Parks, 22, criticised apathy at the regional level blasting the
ineffectiveness and inefficiency of those in charge.
“This Region has multiple young men with passes in several subjects at the Regional CXC
exams yet they are forced to work in construction instead of staying home and or liming on the
street corner. I am trusting that through programmes like this (the President’s Youth Award,
Republic of Guyana [PYARG] the Government will reach out to many of us in Region Ten,”
Parks said.
For 22-year-old Alero Allen, a former Qualfon employee, some firms are unscrupulous and
unethical knowing fully well options in the Guyanese labour sector are limited.
“We have many people who are forced to take all manner of treatment, even insults because
employers know what we are faced with and they use it to control us (the employees),” she said.
For Leslie Duke, an unemployed graduate of the Kuru Kuru Cooperative College, self-
employment is the way forward. The ambitious joiner hopes to find the financial resources to
start his own carpentry and joinery business.
“Because of unemployment youths are idle and this is creating many problems in society. I trust
that while some are looking for employment, the government can assist those seeking to start
their own businesses as this will also help in creating employment,” Duke said.
Frank Noble, 20, is a Primary school teacher from Wismar Shore and his frequent contacts with
young residents said reinvigorating the PYARG is the first step to attack rampaging
unemployment in the depressed mining community.
“[While] there are recreational facilities…I would like to see more because considering the
amount of unemployed people within the Region we need more facilities and through these we
can help in devising ways for job creation and youth advancement,” Noble said.

Wisroc’s unemployed 19-year-old Jarase Joseph wants to see more youths employed and lauded
the organisers of the outreach. That effort Joseph noted will aid in better understanding the
dilemma faced by Region Ten youths.
“There is nothing for young people within our community so I would like to see a community
Centre where everyone can have an opportunity to learn life-enhancing skills. It doesn’t matter
what they learn but at least something that they can use to improve themselves,” the young
female said.
Her 19-year-old cousin Ruel Hall from Lovers Lane, bemoaned the fact that many are certified
yet unemployed.
“We need more work, there are nuff youths out there with their certificates but ain’t get no work
and so it’s clear that we need more work within the community,” Hall observed.
Hall remains in the swelling ranks of the unemployed while his father is a Regional
Democratic Council (RDC) employee.