Prime Minister Speaks About YES Program
Photo By Erasmus Williams
Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
February 05, 2009 (CUOPM)
A Youth Empowerment through Skills Programme (YES) targeting some 500 young people in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis was announced Wednesday by Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas.
“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 at a Press Conference, the second in as many weeks.
Dr. Douglas said that working on young people’s self-awareness and sense of self-worth is also key if any of this is to work and yield the expected result.
“Personal development emphases will be crucial components of the YES programme as well. Positive coping methods”¦.techniques for resolving conflict calmly, self control, self-esteem, and self-mastery will be stressed ““ right alongside metal work, nail art, plumbing, air conditioning, cake and pastry making, farming, small engine repairs and other areas,” said the St. Kitts and Nevis leader.
Dr. Douglas noted that the initiative, which includes on-the-job training, is one of the recommendations from last December’s National Consultation on Crime.
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.
