EDITOR: I was invited to attend my niece’s graduation from the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College on Thursday, June 27 at the Victoria Park which commenced at 2:00 p.m. I would like to congratulate the 683 students from the various divisions who graduated. I wish them God’s richest blessings and success going forward.

It is the usual norm for me to see many students graduating and appear excited, from the look on their faces, to start the next chapter of their lives. Many well wishers came out this year 2023 to show support for their child, children, relatives, friends, etc. The stands were packed.

There seems to be an increase in students who are graduating each year. Most likely the females continue to outnumber then males. I bow my head and say to myself “what next?” Some students had bright smiles on their faces, while others seemed dismal. They might already be asking themselves the question- “what’s next?”

What’s next for these students, especially those who have no financial support going forward in making their dreams become a reality? I can dogmatically say that scholarships would not be available for each student.

Buildings continue to be built in St. Vincent and the Grenadines but no industries. Industries in the students’ field of study that will provide jobs for these students who would not be ready to take on the mental energy of additional studies at this time and would need to have experience in the field in which they wish to serve.

I asked what became of the Diamond Dairy industry at Diamonds, the smocking industry at Campden Park. The banana industry has become a thing of the past. Somebody please remind me of what industries do we have in St. Vincent and the Grenadines that provide job for citizens?

The aforementioned job opportunities are those I can recall as a teenager growing up.

We have recently invested in a new courthouse at Calliaqua and in the process of renovating a fewbuildings, but where are the industries? We import too many things that we can and should be producing locally, so many fruits drop along the roadside, and most are picked by the wind and the rain on private properties.

Our youths are finding negative things to do. One young man, at the age of 19 was caught with a large amount of cocaine. Is it that our young people are too lazy to work? What is really going on in their minds. Is it the negative effect that social media has on them that has distorted their minds and morals or is it bad parenting?

Where are the industries? I am asking the government of this country to provide for our students who are without hope of getting a job in SVG. Should I have named this article ‘where is the hope’? The government must be accountable. It is time we stop sweeping things under the rug by making excuses and seriously get to the root of the matter.

The private establishments are trying their best as it relates to providing jobs like computer technician services, plumbing and what I have seen recently is farming experts encouraging young college students to have an interest in Agriculture.

Agriculture makes lots of money. Some consider it to be hard work, but when I see one farmer illustrating how to plant dasheen – every time he reiterates “farming is easy” and this is because he has developed a passion for this occupation.

I was able to read some of the words on the graduation hats of some students. The hats were decorated by the ladies with flowers and positive words of affirmation. This one quote resonates with me “I trust the next chapter, because I know the author. Jeremiah 29:12.”

I conclude by saying “There will still be hope in some of our graduates, even though they may ask the question “what’s next?

• Yvette Gittens, Early Childhood practitioner and literacy specialist