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HOME	NOVEMBER 05th, 2005

Government has announced plans to establish a National Youth Service. In delivering the recent Throne speech in Parliament, Governor-General Sir Daniel Williams said the programme would provide “more jobs and opportunities for our young people”.

“It will also equip them with professional training and certification necessary for their personal development”, Sir Daniel told the joint sitting of parliament. No other details were given about the programme.

The island’s Head of State also made mention of plans by government to expand on the Imani programme, a scheme aimed at placing young people at work places to gain experience in the world of work. According to Sir Daniel, the planned expansion of the Imani programme “will once again provide more jobs for our young people who have just left school and are seeking employment”.

Critics of the ruling New National Party (NNP) government have often accused Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell of trying to use the Imani programme as a vote-catcher for the administration. Sir Daniel also addressed Parliament on criticsms levelled at government on the slow manner in which the nation’s schools were breing rehabilitated following the devastation of Hurricane Ivan just oveer a year ago.

He said: “My Government is aware of the present need to have some schools rehabilitated as this new school semester has started. In this regard, Government will continue to embark on the comprehensive schools rehabilitation programme with significant donor support”.

Several primary and pre-primary schools were late in re-opening for the new school year that started in September due to unfinished work on their school buildings.

Sir Daniel also touched on the critical question of National Security in light of the tremendous criticisms levelled at the performance of the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) during the passage of Hurricane Ivan.

He said: “In 2006, national security will be a major area of focus for my government. With the advent of the CSME (Caricom Single Market and Economy), Cricket World Cup, and given the need to increase the nation’s preparedness to deal with natural disasters, my government will take steps to implement the following aspects of the National Anti-crime Strategy: