Many people who will benefit from the $300 million job creation plan announced by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar Wednesday are excited about the prospect of getting work.
However some opposition members are calling the plan "insulting".
The job creation initiative is one of several to find solutions to social problems and deal with crime. In making the announcement Persad-Bissessar noted that the intention is to create thousands of jobs mainly in the so-called crime “hot-spots” areas.
She said it would provide an opportunity for people to work so they wouldn't be tempted to turn to a life of crime, noting that honest work will add dignity to the lives of those who will benefit.
The government plans to launch the program next week in Nelson Street, Port of Spain.
However while residents in depressed a crime prone neighbourhoods are excited and looking forward to the jobs three PNM MPs have called it "insulting".
The Guardian newspaper asked Colm Imbert, Patricia McIntosh and Amery Browne to comment on the plan.
Imbert told the paper, “Anyone who is at the lower end of the economic scale and unemployed would take it, of course, as they may have nothing.
“But it’s like throwing people crumbs from the master’s table—it’s quite insulting because it seems more like a handout than a sustainable job,” he added.
“It’s not a full-time job, no decent wage, no opportunities for career advancement and it is clearly designed only to pacify those who’ ve been hurt by the state of emergency.
“The biggest problem with the announcement is that it seems to be a make-work scheme with no sense of permanence or sustainability with these jobs."
McIntosh called it just another URP and CEPEP, referring to it as "throwing corn to fowl."
She added, “It’s political strategy to try and appease persons in hot spot areas who they treated unfairly, brutalised and incarcerated unfairly during the SoE—because they’re afraid of a backlash when it is over.”
Despite her criticism she said she happy that people in her constituency might get jobs. “People will get some money in their hands for Christmas, they’ll spend and merchants will be happy," she said. "I can’t blame Government for that strategy."
Browne's view is that the plan is a bad one. “Government is completely bereft of any new ideas and only seem to alternate between imitating the PNM and criticising the PNM," he said.
“It fits the usual pattern of erratic non-leadership and it is clear what they are really doing is expanding the very make-work programme they previously criticised so ferociously.”
However some opposition members are calling the plan "insulting".
The job creation initiative is one of several to find solutions to social problems and deal with crime. In making the announcement Persad-Bissessar noted that the intention is to create thousands of jobs mainly in the so-called crime “hot-spots” areas.
She said it would provide an opportunity for people to work so they wouldn't be tempted to turn to a life of crime, noting that honest work will add dignity to the lives of those who will benefit.
The government plans to launch the program next week in Nelson Street, Port of Spain.
However while residents in depressed a crime prone neighbourhoods are excited and looking forward to the jobs three PNM MPs have called it "insulting".
The Guardian newspaper asked Colm Imbert, Patricia McIntosh and Amery Browne to comment on the plan.
Imbert told the paper, “Anyone who is at the lower end of the economic scale and unemployed would take it, of course, as they may have nothing.
“But it’s like throwing people crumbs from the master’s table—it’s quite insulting because it seems more like a handout than a sustainable job,” he added.
“It’s not a full-time job, no decent wage, no opportunities for career advancement and it is clearly designed only to pacify those who’ ve been hurt by the state of emergency.
“The biggest problem with the announcement is that it seems to be a make-work scheme with no sense of permanence or sustainability with these jobs."
McIntosh called it just another URP and CEPEP, referring to it as "throwing corn to fowl."
She added, “It’s political strategy to try and appease persons in hot spot areas who they treated unfairly, brutalised and incarcerated unfairly during the SoE—because they’re afraid of a backlash when it is over.”
Despite her criticism she said she happy that people in her constituency might get jobs. “People will get some money in their hands for Christmas, they’ll spend and merchants will be happy," she said. "I can’t blame Government for that strategy."
Browne's view is that the plan is a bad one. “Government is completely bereft of any new ideas and only seem to alternate between imitating the PNM and criticising the PNM," he said.
“It fits the usual pattern of erratic non-leadership and it is clear what they are really doing is expanding the very make-work programme they previously criticised so ferociously.”
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