BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE Federal Government of St. Kitts and Nevis today (Dec. 21) launched a pilot project called People Employment Programme (PEP), aimed at bringing relief to the unemployed and also to reduce the unemployment rate.
The St. Kitts and Nevis Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation (SIDF)-funded project is spearheaded by the National Skills Training Programme (NSTP) and was launched this morning on Bank Street.
Among those who spoke at the opening ceremony was the Hon. Nigel Carty, who informed the large gathering that PEP comprises six projects that target nationals of varying ages and employment interest.
Listed below are the projects and what they seek to achieve:
1. Engaging Qualified Interns Project (EQuIP) is a job placement which seeks to develop the skill sets of unemployed, academically qualified citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis through a period of internship with established private and public sectors.
2. National Infrastructure Improvement Project (NIIP) seeks to stimulate economic development through infrastructural enhancement and the provision of employment opportunities to participants in the programme.
3. Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (STED) seeks to enhance the entrepreneurial and/or technical skills of participants through the conduct of classroom-type and practical training by experienced personnel.
4. Women In Small Enterprise (WISE) seeks to empower prospective and exciting women in small enterprises through the provision of micro-finance grant support of up to $2 500 and training in micro-enterprise management.
5. Agri-Enterprise Training and Management (ATM) seeks to promote local agricultural production and hence increase participant's income earning capacity and reduce the nation's reliance on imported products.
6. Women In Construction Trade (WICT) seeks to increase employment opportunities for women who often, due to the demands of their primary roles as caregivers, are unable to develop the skills required to engage in meaningful income earning activities.
With regards to the enrolment process, Carty explained that persons should first complete the application forms that are available on Bank Street, where staff members of the SIDF are on hand to 'walk though' the programmes and assist persons in selecting the one that best suit them.
He further explained that application forms are also available online at www.sknpep.com, the NSTP, SIDF office, Labour Department office and various community and health centres around the island.
"Once you have completed the application form, you will be contacted and you will be interviewed to ensure that you have genuine interest in working and becoming business people that you are applying for, and to ensure that while you are receiving a salary you are willing to make a contribution to something," Carty said.
Also speaking at the opening ceremony was Prime Minister the Rt. Hon Dr. Denzil Douglas who thanked the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Public Works, Ministry of Youth Empowerment and Sports and the Ministry of Social and Community Development for collaborating with the programme.
The Prime Minster said the programme would be evaluated on an ongoing basis, emphasising that it has no time limit.
He encouraged young and old unemployed persons to take advantage of the PEP.
Dr. Douglas also encouraged those who are employed, but would like to explore other opportunities, to join the programme.
"A lot of our young people are business oriented, they have ideas but they do not have the means of fulfilling those ideas. PEP is to give them that means that they need," he said.
He said the PEP is an important example of his government's determination to improve and empower the nation's women as well as to correct social imbalance that is found in countries all over the world.
PEP is a government initiative which would contribute to national, social and economic transformation by the establishment of various projects that primarily would provide employment opportunities for qualifying nationals of St. Kitts and Nevis.
