YES gets the nod from citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, FEBRUARY 18TH 2009 (CUOPM) – The recently launched Youth Empowerment through Skills (YES) programme is coming in for high praise from across the twin-island Federation.
 
Emails and callers to the weekly Tuesday programme “Ask the Prime Minister” and persons interviewed by Sun St. Kitts/Nevis commended Dr. Douglas for the initiative suggesting that it would be beneficial to the youth and help to change their mentality. Similar sentiments have been expressed by hundreds of other persons.
 
“The YES programme is a very good idea. Prime Minister Douglas is going in the right direction by helping the youths of this Federation. I am looking forward to seeing my fellow young people change their mentality. Plus, we should have less crime because more young people will be having money in their pockets and a job to go to,” said Davisha in Sun St. Kitts/Nevis.
 
Marsha Clarke said: “The YES programme is a good thing. It is very timely… because in times of inflation, the youths of the Federation need a wake-up call. It’s no longer time for them to depend on parents any more for financial assistance. It is now time for them to make their own choices in life. I strongly commend Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas and the respective stakeholders for putting on a project of this nature ….”
 
Carol, who emailed the programme, thanked Prime Minister Douglas “for raising the hopes and aspirations of we the young people of St Kitts and Nevis. Your policies of inclusion have benefited the people of this country, politically, socially and economically.”
 
You continue to show the people of this country that you are a man of extreme vision, capable leadership and most of all an abundance of ideas and energy. You have been tried and tested and this is the man that is in the right chair to continue to lead this nation. As a young person in St Kitts, I pray that Almighty God continue to bless you richly, continue to resuscitate your energies so that you can continue the task of moving this nation forward. We the young people of St Kitts and Nevis cannot gamble with our future. We know what we have...God Bless you Prime Minister Douglas.”
 
Said another by email: “As an adult I want to fully endorse your YES programme. I am convinced that you are still moving in the right direction. I recall joining your Work Experience Programme in 1995 or 1996. That opportunity, which you gave to me, then a teenage mother, has now resulted in my obtaining a degree in education. As the Prime Minister you have instilled hope in young people. The many programmes that your government has nurtured have benefited us immensely and we are grateful.”
 
Hospitality/Hotel Trades, Building Construction and Business Administration are among the occupational areas that young people will be trained under the Youth Empowerment through Skills (YES) training programme announced last week by Prime Minister Douglas.
 
The YES targets 500 young people in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
 
Industrial Maintenance, Beauty Services as well as modules in agriculture, art and graphics, metal work, home decorative sewing, tailoring and dress making are among the other areas of training.
 
Under hospitality/hotel trades, young persons interested in this area will be trained in hotel accounting, bartending, cake decorating, cake and pastry making, food and beverage services, food preparation and housekeeping.
 
Basic electricity, electrical installation, building construction, carpentry, joinery, plumbing and masonry and steel bending will be taught under Building Construction.
 
Industrial Maintenance will cover the areas of air-conditioning and refrigeration, auto mechanics, landscaping, automotive electricity, small engine repairs and know your vehicle.
 
General Accounting, Secretarial skills and computer applications will be taught under Business Administration.
Hairdressing, barbering, nail art and cosmetology will be taught under Beauty Services.
 
“The YES Programme will equip young people to enter fields as varied as construction and business administration, industrial maintenance and hospitality trades,” said Prime Minister Douglas.
 
He said the traditional crime-fighting approaches are being retained and strengthened and his administration is simultaneously making a special effort to expand the skills base, and therefore boost the income-generating capacity, of the federation’s youths as a part of a determined thrust to counter the appeal of thug culture and counter the appeal of crime.
 
The Y-E-S programme is being administered by the National Skills Training Programme of the Ministry of Education, in conjunction with the Ministry of Social and Community Development and Gender Affairs.
 
A multi-disciplinary committee involving civil society as well as the public and private sectors, has been charged with the management of this programme.