PEP’s price tag now $214 million says PM Harris
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE Government, in keeping with its promise to revamp the People’s Empowerment Programme (P.E.P), has rebranded and launched the programme as the Skills Training Empowerment Programme (STEP).
The launch took place yesterday (Feb. 16) at The Circus, Basseterre.
Permanent Secretary within the Office of the Prime Minister, Osbert Desuza, informed the gathering that the new programme would feature 18 areas of training, including carpentry, masonry, plumbing, food and beverage, and electrical maintenance.
These programmes were earmarked after the STEP authorities received feedback from several agencies - including the Hotel and Tourism Association and the Department of Labour - on what were some of the areas in which training is needed.
DeSuza explained that the areas were chosen in an attempt to satisfy employment demands, particularly in the hospitality sector.
“I need not elaborate on the numerous job opportunities that would be made available on the Peninsula shortly.”
In the first instance, the programme would train some 70 participants, DeSuza revealed.
According to the Permanent Secretary, the programme would be executed using currently-acceptable training modules that would be vetted by the Technical, Vocational and Educational Training (TVET) Council.
While in opposition, the Team Unity Coalition promised to transform the programme into a more hands-on one which seeks to give persons the skillset necessary for gainful employment.
There are more than 18 programmes on offer and SKNVibes understands that each part of the training would only last for a period of six months.
Prime Minister, Dr. Hon. Timothy Harris, in his remarks, urged the people to “STEP up and rise” as the government is offering that opportunity through this programme.
Over the last two years, Dr. Harris noted, the Federation grappled with the reality “of a PEP programme that was conceived hastily in 2012 in an effort to help the government then, in its pre-elections mobilizing.
“PEP, when it started, was intended to run for six months in the first instance...PEP ballooned in terms of the numbers. When it started in 2012, according to the minutes of the meetings that were held, it was intended to absorb a maximum of 1000 persons by the time of the elections of 2014 there about… The PEP programme had mushroomed to near 4000 persons.”
PM Harris noted that the problem with the old PEP was not only that it was hastily conceived but that it was also poorly managed.
“Significantly, because of the size and because of the political opportunism at work in the programme - PEP became a hemorrhage on the public sector. In other words, it was costing too much to maintain PEP.
“The cost of PEP to the public sector to date, is a whopping $214 million. Imagine that…the government sector has spent on PEP programme to date $214 million. That is a lot of money. That is clearly quarter of a billion dollars.”
The first batch of participants are expected to assemble at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) building on Wednesday (Feb. 27) for orientation.
However, training does not begin until May.
“I hereby encourage all participants in this training to cease the opportunity to enhance the skills and hence their competitiveness…” DeSuza implored.
