PM Says Government Will Continue To Implement Programmes To Empower Young People
By: , February 14, 2020The Key Point:
Photo: Michael Sloley
Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (centre), is being shown something of interest by Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Rocky Meade (left), at the official opening of the Jamaica National Service Corps multipurpose building, at Up Park Camp, in Kingston, on February 13. Observing (from second left) are Attorney General, Marlene Malahoo Forte; Minister of National Security, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang; and Opposition Spokesperson on National Security, Fitz Jackson.
Photo: Michael Sloley
Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (left), is guided on a tour of the Jamaica National Service Corps multipurpose building, Up Park Camp, in Kingston, by Major Raymond Warren (right), after the official opening of the facility on February 13. Other members of the touring party are Minister of National Security, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang (background, left); and Opposition Spokesperson on National Security, Fitz Jackson.
Photo: Michael Sloley
Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (third right); and Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Rocky Meade (second left), cut the ribbon to officially open the Jamaica National Service Corps (JNSC) multipurpose building, Up Park Camp, in Kingston, on February 13. Sharing the moment (from left) are Executive Officer, Caribbean Military Academy, Lieutenant Colonel Blair Waddington; Minister of National Security, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang; and Attorney General, Marlene Malahoo Forte.The Facts
- Speaking at the official opening of the $500-million Jamaica National Service Corps (JNSC) Multipurpose Building, at Up Park Camp in Kingston, Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, said programmes such as the Housing, Opportunity, Production and Employment (HOPE), are geared at engaging unattached youth in a meaningful way.
- “Over time, we will make similar investments in other forms of national service, because, ultimately, the objective is to end this business of ‘unattachment’ in the society. There is no way the society can develop, progress and prosper if we are developing young men and women who are on the fringe and are excluded from the society,” he argued.
The Full Story
The Government will continue to invest and implement programmes aimed at empowering young people through skills training and work placement opportunities.
Speaking at the official opening of the $500-million Jamaica National Service Corps (JNSC) Multipurpose Building, at Up Park Camp in Kingston, Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, said programmes such as the Housing, Opportunity, Production and Employment (HOPE), are geared at engaging unattached youth in a meaningful way.
“Over time, we will make similar investments in other forms of national service, because, ultimately, the objective is to end this business of ‘unattachment’ in the society. There is no way the society can develop, progress and prosper if we are developing young men and women who are on the fringe and are excluded from the society,” he argued.
The HOPE programme is intended to provide an avenue for the development of fully rounded individuals who have the social, academic and technical skills to become productive members of the society. It also aims to provide educational and job opportunities for young people.
The Prime Minister noted that more than 20,000 Jamaicans have been trained under the HOPE initiative, which has several components. These include, but are not limited to, the Jamaica National Service Corps as well as the environmental and digitisation components.
Mr. Holness said the JNSC is an integral component of the larger HOPE programme, which is based on the principle of learning, earning, giving back to country through service, and saving (LEGS).
“So, every member of the JNSC, they are working to learn, they are working to earn and they are working to give service. It is obviously by far the most structured one, and the one Government has emphasised the most,” he added.
He pointed out that the digitisation aspect of the programme will assist in transforming Jamaica into a digital society.
“They are right across the country taking paper-based documents and converting them into digital documents. This is a very important part of the creation of a digital society, because you have to have content, and for government, records are valuable,” Mr. Holness said.
The Prime Minister said the Government is committed to the development of empowerment programmes that provide training and employment opportunities for young people, adding that the JDF and the HEART Trust/NTA are two of the major service delivery entities for the HOPE Programme.
The Jamaica National Service Corps multipurpose building is expected to improve training delivery.