Local Government to Employ More Young Persons for Summer

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, has announced that there will be an increase in the number of participants employed in the agency’s Youth Summer Employment Programme.

The programme, which is in its second year, will commence on August 9 and employ young persons over a four-week period to conduct an audit of street lights, and to do other tasks.

Speaking at a local governance conference in Montego Bay, St. James, on July 17, the Minister noted that last year, some 2,500 young people were employed across all the municipalities, and this year the number will be increased to 3,000.

“The decision to do the audit while creating employment for the youth has certainly benefited us. Based on the audit that was done last year, we were in a better position to represent our case as a local authority with the Jamaica Public Service Company as it relates to the amount of street lights that are working across the country,” Mr. McKenzie said.

He added that in this year’s programme, the summer employees will also assist the local authorities in identifying persons who have trade licences.

“This programme will see each councillor having 15 individuals in the respective divisions and mayors will have 25 participants,” the Minister said.

Mr. McKenzie pointed out that the findings will be recorded in a database that will provide information for the Ministry and the Municipal Corporations.

The summer initiative falls under the Housing, Opportunity, Production and Employment (HOPE) programme, which provides educational and job opportunities for young people, aged 18 to 24, who are not employed or enrolled in a school or programme of training.