Jobs being created in Guyana - through development
A GINA release, February 09, 2003
"I was out of a job and right now I am employed
with DYWIDAG, and I can maintain my family and save some money,"
said Godfrey Mc Pherson who hails from Hopetown Village, West Coast
Berbice.
He is a heavy duty operator working on the Mahaica Bridge, an example
of jobs being created through development.
A large number of jobs have been created in the areas of housing
construction, roads and bridges upgrading and construction.
The spin-off effect of infrastructure development programmes in
communities, has created employment for thousands.
Multi-million dollar infrastructural projects assist Guyana's movement
towards modernisation, growth and prosperity.
Since the PPP/C Administration took Office in 1992, several measures
have been taken to enhance and improve the quality of living of
Guyanese.
As a result, a conducive economic environment through an investment
climate has been created with the drafting of relevant legislations.
The Investment Bill and the Small Business Bill are two of the most
recent pieces of Legislation geared for promoting employment in
the private sector.
According to the latest available figures on unemployment in Guyana,
the rate has been decreasing constantly since the 1970s.
The data shows that Guyana’s unemployment rate stands at 11.7
percent, and this relatively low, compared with the rest of the
Caribbean.
The Mahaica/Rosignol Road Rehabilitation project will see 66 kilometres
of road being upgraded and widened between the Mahaica Bridge and
Rosignol. This project is being executed at a cost of US $22M by
a Trinidadian Company, DIPCON Engineering Services.
This Rosignol/Mahaica road project alone has created jobs for approximately
200 people.
Several of the men working on the road have indicated that they
are grateful to be employed instead of being on the streets, and
many of them have dreams and aspirations.
Gavin Samuel of Buxton Village is happy that instead of being on
the streets and getting into trouble - he is actually working.
"This is my first road project and I have gained a lot of experience
and I will continue with this line of work," disclosed Samuel.
He provides monetary assistance to his mother and sisters.
Traditionally, people in rural communities in Berbice have been
engaged mainly in the agriculture sector.
But Jai Narine from Catherina, drives a tractor that transports
sand and other components needed to pitch the road.
He is married and said that the salary is good. He said that he
was a rice farmer prior to getting the job with DIPCON and he is
satisfied with his present job.
Narine also said it is refreshing to see that so many people have
gained employment through the road project.
A German company DYWIDAG, is contracted for the bridges project,
valued at US $22M. This project entails the upgrading and construction
of bridges from Timehri to Rosignol. Several of these bridges have
already been completed.
Enhanced economic activities through job creation have several spill-off
effects in the various communities.
Clifton Hope, a heavy duty operator working on the LBI bridge agrees
that with development there will always be more jobs.
"With many Guyanese working we can see a better Guyana in terms
of better living conditions."
TOP |
Monday,
February 9, 2004