After undertaking a thorough evaluation of the Government of Saint Lucia’s Summer Employment Programme, officials of the Department of the Public Service, headed by Dr. Virginia Albert Poyotte, have declared the programme a resounding success.
The Summer Employment Programme commenced on Monday, Aug. 7, with a group of over 100 students, comprising of Form Five students from secondary schools around the island, first year students from the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College and university level students.
The purpose of the annual Summer Employment Programme is to provide students with the opportunity to gain practical work experience and to assist the students in defraying the cost of school supplies.
Students under this programme were paid a stipend which was made possible via an allocation authorized by Prime Minister, the Honourable Philip J. Pierre, who as Minister of the Youth Economy, has continuously pledged his commitment to youth development.
This year, the Government Summer Employment Programme was implemented for three weeks and concluded on Aug. 31.
The government, however, intends to reinstate the full programme for the next financial year, to accommodate more than 200 students for a period of two months.
Based on feedback received, the students indicated that they enjoyed the work experience, found the summer programme rewarding and look forward to participating in the programme next year.
SOURCE: Department of the Public Service. Headline photo courtesy Unsplash
No doubt about it, that is a very good initiative, but for heaven sake keep the politics out of it. A number of the students who participated in the summer employment opportunity, are children of SLP supporters and operatives. Most of the supporters, operatives, and constituency group executive members, are already benefiting from employment opportunities provided by the party. By giving the summer employment opportunities to their children, the government is compensating them over and over. At least, the government can let something be independent and fair, for once. SLP must stop fooling the people by attempting to be above board, while everything is partisan and discriminatory.
Btw is this a new initiative? Is it something that has just started by PJP? Is it an initiative brought onboard by Public Service minister? Some how i think or believe that summer employment program has been going on for years now. Sad part now is this is being done through Political chanels.
All of these negative comments are from Unitedpac.
Good ALWAYS PREVAIL
LIES GET ONE NOWHERE BECAUSE SOME DAY ALL THESE LIES WILL BE CAUGHT UP WITH YOU
” … 100 students, comprising of Form Five students from secondary schools around the island, first year students from the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College and university level students. … Based on feedback received, the students indicated that they enjoyed the work experience, found the summer programme rewarding and look forward to participating in the programme next year.” … huh?? How can they “repeat” (looking forward) this again? Poor writing …
It would be interesting to know how much the stipend was.
Good initiative – but very poor reporting.
This programme has been going on for eons plus the secondary students started in July and ended August making it 2 months and the university students started in June after their exams in May and ended in August for their return to whichever University they were students. This is not a NEW programme.