The programme entitled “Reclaiming our Youth: Embracing Our Future” is consistent with the Government's promise of prosperity for all, she said, noting that the project will require an investment of $300 million.
"We believe that employment is the highest form of empowerment," she said. "For a young citizen in a low income and underprivileged environment a job means the world, it brings meaning to life, a sense of purpose, dignity and the opportunity to participate in all that this country offers."
Persad-Bissessar said the plan is to ramp up employment in various existing programmes.
Persad-Bissessar said the plan is to ramp up employment in various existing programmes.
"Our youth from the previously determined “hot spot” areas and low income communities will benefit from this income transfer by engaging to undertake community based work linked to training initiatives which confer basic literacy and numeric skills, along with instructions in the basic trades," she said.
"To this end, the community enhancement program CEPEP will ramp up its capacity to engage members of the community and neighbourhoods most affected by crime and deviant behaviour among our youth."
"To this end, the community enhancement program CEPEP will ramp up its capacity to engage members of the community and neighbourhoods most affected by crime and deviant behaviour among our youth."
In a clear reference to a strategy used by former Prime Minister Patrick Manning to engage gang leaders in dialogue, Persad-Bissessar stated: "Mr, Speaker, may I state categorically that we will NOT be meeting or engaging the services of so called “community leaders”.
"On the contrary we will engage communities using existing and proven village councils, residents, tenants associations and action committees."
She said the strategy will also include the “Colour Me Orange” programme of the Trinidad and Tobago Housing Development Corporation (HDC), which aims to bring economic opportunities to youths and single women in the 54 housing estates across Trinidad in a massive clean and beautify programme for the Christmas season.
"This innovative program will now include a component which utilises local activists to do home improvements to their own communities in a private public partnership with the HDC.
"Our new project dubbed “58 Duncan Street” will serve as a pilot and hopefully the model for the rest of Trinidad and Tobago as a case of citizens taking responsibility for their public space."
She said she plans to launch the programme next Tuesday with the aim of increasing employment in the HDC estates from 450 to 2,000.
"It must be stated that regrettably, due to the neglect of the previous regime, our youth in the HDC communities are among the most vulnerable to the lure of criminal elements.
"Saving our HDC communities means saving our nation," she said
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