Gov’t creating employment opportunities

The number of Vincentians legally employed in overseas territories like Canada and the United Kingdom (UK) is expected to grow significantly in the near future.

This has been asserted by Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves who, while speaking at a press briefing on Monday at Cabinet Room, said that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sir Louis Straker and Minister of Agriculture Saboto Caesar are making huge strides in the overseas employment area.{{more}}

The Prime Minister noted that Sir Louis has been doing a good job and very shortly persons from the Navy will be coming from the United Kingdom (UK) to do preliminary recruitment of Vincentians. Over 100 persons have so far signed up for the Navy.

Gonsalves noted also that through the efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, under the leadership of Sir Louis, this country has been added to the list of countries that can get farm worker visas to the United States (US) and recruitment by the relevant persons will take place very shortly.

Also, Minister Caesar recently travelled to Western Canada, where he spoke to persons who are interested in getting farm workers from St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The Prime Minister said that according to Caesar, it is probable that this country can get up to 500 persons on a Canadian farm workers programme and that two provincial ministers from Canada are expected to come to SVG to discuss the possibilities.

He noted that as it relates to employing persons, the Government is undertaking both public and private investments to create jobs and today Friday, December 2, Christmas road work is expected to begin, which will see road gangs starting work.

“I have passed the word to [Minister of Transport and Works Julian] Francis so people can get additional money, people who tend to do Christmas cleaning on the road. Even though we cleaned at Independence, the grass is back again with a vengeance”, said Gonsalves. (LC)