Government Progress Report; Yes, We Can Defeat Youth Unemployment!

[dropcap]I[/dropcap]n a 2008 campaign speech a hopeful Barack Obama stated: “Where we are met with cynicism and doubts and those who tell us that we can’t, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of the people: ‘Yes, we can!’ ” Such optimism and enthusiasm, as President Obama would have reason later to observe, is — even in the United States with its near limitless resources — today hard to come by.

Some of us are old enough to remember a time when being neighbourly was not seen as snooping and koudmeins was a way of life. Some of us cannot recall a time when our country was close to self-sufficient, at peace. Too many of us know only about division and strife. Imagine ourselves without crippling debt, high unemployment and low growth. If we are ready to confront the inconvenient truth that we created troubles now plaguing us, then it won’t be all that difficult understanding that what was done can also be undone. Yes, this will require a particular attitude: a winner’s attitude. Above all, moving successfully forward demands quality leadership; leaders with vision and the determination to achieve what they conceive!

In 2017, we began to see and feel a shift in our country. As we drove around the island, as we travelled to and from work on our greatly improved roadways, once near impassable because of rampant and sustained neglect; as we saw in Port Castries the cruise ships with record numbers of visitors; as it dawned on us that the purse snatchers and other lawbreakers had been put to flight, we came to understand the value of thinking outside the box; the importance of not giving up on ourselves. Perhaps more importantly, we saw evidence that the promised new Saint Lucia was beginning to emerge even before Prime Minister Chastanet and his ministers had been 18 months in office.

Among the major issues which have plagued our country for some time now is unemployment. Promises of jobs in the past have gone unfulfilled. For my first column in a series updating Saint Lucians on the changes which are occurring in our country I wished to concentrate on the troubling issue of unemployment and the Government’s plans to continue to reduce unemployment especially amongst the youth.

For several years our unemployment rate has never gone below 20 per cent. The annual rate for unemployment in 2015 stood at 24.1 per cent. In 2016, the rate reduced to 21 per cent and in 2017 we began to see a steady reduction in the unemployment rate from 20.1 per cent in the first quarter to 16.8 per cent in the third quarter. The Statistics department has also announced that it expects to see further declines in the unemployment figures.

The activity happening throughout the country, especially in the tourism sector, is the main reason for the decrease. We have seen record numbers in stay-over visitors which improved by over 10.5 per cent and cruise arrivals increased by over 16 per cent. We also recorded in 2017 the completion of Royalton Resort & Spa, Harbor Club, expansions at Windjammer Landing Resort and Coconut Bay.

Among the other positive signs in 2017 was the improved confidence of the private sector. A Chamber of Commerce business survey stated that there was an increase in sales and a general increase in optimism amongst businesses polled. This, we believe, is as a direct result of the decrease in the Value Added Tax and our thrust to support local manufacturers.

The latest unemployment figures also showed us, however, that we desperately need to decrease youth unemployment which stood at 34.3 per cent for the third quarter. This must be driven by attracting local and foreign investment, encouraging entrepreneurship and improving the skills of our workforce.

Prime Minister Honourable Allen Chastanet in his Budget address last year indicated that the Government’s objective is to work towards an unemployment rate of no more than 15 per cent by 2021.

With several projects and initiatives lined up for 2018-2019, it is clear that the Government is well on its way to achieving that goal. The Government’s thrust is also to find new and innovative ways to engage our youth.

Among the innovative prospects to encourage youth employment is Ojo Labs which opened in Vieux Fort in November 2017. Ojo Labs is a partnership between the Government of Saint Lucia and OJO Labs International, which opened up a brand new facility in the Hewanorra free zone and is offering training in artificial intelligence. Ojo itself is a virtual assistant that uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to guide US consumers through their real estate journey, and answers their questions. The Saint Lucia office, which is targeted to employ up to 300 young Saint Lucians, includes state-of-the-art hands-on training, and learning new skills and technology.

The Government also expects that with the changes which have been made to the IBC legislation, several companies will now see Saint Lucia as favourable to business expansion. In 2017 we saw Digicel launch a new hub office in Saint Lucia as a part of its global transformation programme. The Prime Minister has also stated that the Government is currently reviewing five applications for headquartered offices in Saint Lucia. The benefits such operations can bring to not just decreasing unemployment but to economic growth as a whole are huge. We anticipate entrepreneurs tapping into
these new business opportunities and new services to develop around such headquarters.

Construction in 2018 will be a major driver for employment. Work commenced early in 2018 on the Desert Star Holding’s racetrack project, and hotel projects such as Fairmont Hotel in Choiseul and Ritz Carlton in Black Bay are also set to begin in 2018. Range Development, the investors in the Black Bay project, are reporting that at least 500 staff will be employed during the construction phase which is scheduled to begin within the first quarter of 2018, while an estimated 350 staff will be employed when the resort begins its official operations.

Invest Saint Lucia also reported late last year that Apple Leisure Group (ALG) is expected to bring two of its luxury, all-inclusive resort brands to Saint Lucia in 2020. The resort is expected to be in Micoud and comprise residences, condominiums and two hotels.

The implementation of these investments will undoubtedly position the economy for take-off on a higher growth trajectory and have a direct impact on youth employment and also decrease the number of persons who have to migrate to the north to find work.

The north of the island will also simultaneously continue to develop as Sandals plans to commence work on its new 400-suite property, which will provide an estimated 600 construction jobs and 875 once operational.

Simultaneously, the Government has been concentrating on training our young people for the world of work. We have focused for now on hospitality training. However, the plans are to introduce more technical vocational training initiatives for our people.

Even as our economy gains momentum the issue of youth unemployment lingers. However, the Government has been, and is laying the ground work to alleviate this problem. The gradual successes we have been getting is more proof that we are on the right path.

For daily updates on Government’s progress visit: https://www.facebook.com/opmsaintlucia/