Taiwan says yes to youth programme

Earlier this week the Government of St.Vincent and the Grenadines received two cheques totalling US$743,992.26 from the Republic of China on Taiwan for the financial support of the Youth Empowerment Service (YES) Programme and the construction of a Learning Resource Centre in West Kingstown.{{more}}

Acting Prime Minister Mike Browne received the cheques of US$371,996.13 each from Leo Lee, Taiwan’s Ambassador to St.Vincent and the Grenadines, on Tuesday, July 14th, 2009.

Browne hailed the successes of the YES Programme and the Learning Resource Centres. He said the YES Programme, in particular, allows the government to address the issues of indigence and poverty. He also used the opportunity to speak of the solid relationship that St.Vincent and the Grenadines shares with Taiwan.

The Minister expressed that it is an honour for him to be receiving another in a series of cheques from Ambassador Lee on behalf of the people of the Republic of China on Taiwan.

Commenting on the YES Programme, Browne said it is designed essentially to give unemployed youths an opportunity to enter into an employment relationship so that they can learn viable on the job skills. “They learn soft skills, that is to say skills not necessarily of a technical nature that derive from their work but skills that have to do with their own development, how they work with others, how they connect with people, how they communicate with people, how they dress, certain fundamental courtesies. In short, it is intended for them not to only get work experience but to ensure that they develop even within the limited time of twelve or so months into rounded individuals,” said Browne.

Regular individuals on the YES Programmes between the ages of 16-30 years receive a monthly stipend of EC$450, while those on the double stipend (National Players, Youth Mobilers, and YES Co-ordinators) receive EC$850.

Browne said that just like the YES Programme, the Learning Resource Centres concept is l Continued from Page 7.

an innovation of the Unity Labour Party administration.

The idea of the Learning Resource Centres was a step up from the traditional community centres, said Browne. He explained that the community centres were basically a physical shell that people used to stage a number of functions, but lacked the resources that would allow for the education and overall development of persons within a particular community.

Learning Resource Centres across St.Vincent and the Grenadines are expected to expedite and enhance learning and also serve some of the functions of the traditional community centres, such as a venue for community meetings, weddings, church organizations, and other social functions. The centres are also equipped with computers.

Ambassador Lee, said one aspect of Taiwan’s foreign policy is the reduction of poverty. He said Taiwan has funded 13 Learning Resource Centres to date.

Rene Baptiste, Parliamentary Representative for West Kingstown, was quite elated to be receiving the funding for a Learning Resource Centre in her constituency. She expressed that she is the happiest area representative in St.Vincent and the Grenadines. Baptiste said West Kingstown is located on the slopes of Mount St.Andrew and, therefore, the topography of her constituency did not lend itself to the early identification of a proper and suitable site.

She noted that a site ideal for the construction of the building has since been identified at Lowmans. At this centre efforts will be made to teach skills such as masonry and tiling, Baptiste disclosed.

Constituencies with completed Learning Resource Centres are: North Windward, North Central Windward, South Central Windward, South Windward, Marriaqua, East St.George (special), West St.George, South Leeward, South Central Leeward, North Leeward and the Southern Grenadines.

Learning Resource Centres are yet to be built in the constituencies of West Kingstown, East Kingstown, Central Kingstown, and the Northern Grenadines.(HN)