Should Cepep or URP be counted as employment? Or are they “created work?” Why are individuals more keen on these forms of employment rather than those of a more permanent type? Do we want a fish for a day or do we want to learn to fish? Notice the influx of workers from all over the world doing jobs Trinis refuse to do. The thing is, when we venture abroad the roles are reversed, we do jobs because we have to.
Repeating “agriculture” like an echo chamber has not and will not work, plain and simple. Agriculture is plagued by too many problems, from larceny come right back. It is not attractive and rewarding. What are we going to do when oil and gas supplies start to diminish? What plans do we have in place?
A lot more training programmes should be started. We cannot all be doctors, lawyers or engineers but we can all find a profession for the enhancement of our country. Let us look to the future with confidence. We can and will make it together. Unemployment will be over ten per cent without Cepep and URP.
AV Rampersad
Princes Town