Statin today release troubling figures, which show unemployment moving from just about 14% in April 2012 to a high of 16.2% in April of this year, 2013. Unemployment amongst the nation youths came it a staggering 38.5%, which is a sad reflection on the ability of the PNP to grow the economy and in so doing create jobs.
The last time unemployment was this high was 16yrs ago and the year would have been 1997 and guess which party was in power at the time, you got it right, the very same PNP.
The world for the most part is no longer in the middle of an economic crises , yet despite this fact, this PNP administration appears at sea as it relates to every aspect of governance and is failing the youths of this country to which it promised so much. This PNP administration cannot seem to get anything right and is turning Jamaica into a giant wasteland as it moves to find job for party faithful, but nothing for the youths of Jamaica.
Portia Simpson Miller said the JLP gave Jamaicans jabs, jabs instead of jobs, but so far her administration “tun it up pon d people”, who are now hungry and desperate and willing to do anything to “eat a food” and robbery, predial larceny and theft have now become the fastest growing jobs in Jamaica, thanks to the poor stewardship of the PNP.
This latest report from STATIN is an indictment on the poor leadership being provided by Prime Minister and her large whatnot !
Filed under: Economics |
Warren's Blog 
This report must have been expected considering business confidence was at or near record low levels in April. It’ll be interesting to see both if the recent bounce in confidence continues and if jobs are created in the private sector with the rise in business confidence. We probably won’t know this until early November when the labour force report for July is released.
It’s a little sketchy to say “The last time unemployment was this high was 16yrs ago and the year would have been 1997 and guess which party was in power at the time, you got it right, the very same PNP.” considering that back then unemployment was stable in the 14-16% range and didn’t take any sort of major upswing to hit the nearly 17% it did in 1997. And unemployment was actually down relative to before the PNP took office in 1989. And it was that same PNP government which took unemployment down to a record low 9.5% in 2007 (under the leadership of Portia Simpson Miller).
That report is up to April – sure it is higher today since I know of many persons who were sent up between April and July plus those students who graduated from school/college/university.
I hear one union person trying to spin it last evening saying that the persons who are gone abroad are not taken into consideration. When were they ever. Lol!
I await the spin from Mama P at conference next month.
Portia targets jobs
PNP unveils plans to address unemployment
BY CONRAD HAMILTON Observer senior reporter hamiltonc@jamaicaobserver.com
Monday, September 19, 2011
Print this page Email A Friend!
OPPOSITION Leader and President of the People’s National Party (PNP) Portia Simpson Miller yesterday hinged the party’s anticipated return to power on employment, telling the thousands of party supporters who congregated at the National Arena for the party’s 73rd annual conference, that it will establish the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP) to drive economic development.
The proposed employment programme was among a raft of initiatives Simpson Miller unveiled, the release of which comes amidst criticisms that despite the launch of its much-touted Progressive Agenda — a document described by the party as the blueprint for a better Jamaica — the opposition party has not been able to convince Jamaicans that it has viable alternatives.
[Hide Description] Opposition Leader and PNP President, Portia Simpson Miller greets supporters with the traditional party symbol at its 73rd annual conference at the National Arena on Sunday. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)
[Restore Description]
1/2
But in a near two-hour address yesterday in what she dubbed a national call to action, the party leader provided details of some of the programmes that would be implemented by her party.
Included in the proposed initiatives is a renegotiation of the existing standby loan facility with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the introduction of a major job creation apparatus named the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP).
“These are the actions the People’s National Party proposes for immediate implementation. The challenges in this country require a short-term national intervention programme to lift the difficulties we face. It also requires a longer term platform for sustained growth and development, the two must work together. Implementation and action must be the focus of these programmes. In the first instance, my government would approach the IMF to redesign and recraft the standy agreement,” said Simpson Miller.
The PNP president used significant portions of her presentation to address unemployment, which she says has worsened since the Bruce Golding administration took office in 2007. According to her, 100,000 Jamaicans have lost their jobs in the past four years.
“Comrades and fellow Jamaicans, while they fiddle and fumble, there have been rapid increases in unemployment among young people, unemployment among women, unemployment among the unskilled and among graduates of secondary and tertiary institutions. Comrades, you know the importance of having a job, jobs are avenues out of poverty. Being gainfully employed gives the people a sense of independence,” said Simposon Miller as she provided details of the job creation plan.
“Comrades, we have called it the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP). We will be able to implement JEEP, and when we do this we will be able to drive the country to economic development and prosperity. Through JEEP, the PNP has identified opportunities for jobs and wealth creation in the immediate term, the medium-term and in the long-term. JEEP will be developed around six main areas; agro-processing, cultural and creative industries, including sports, micro and small business development, manufacturing, community transformation projects and Information and Communication Technology, ICT,” said the PNP President to rousing applause.
Simpson-Miller said her job creation initiative would be enhanced through partnerships with the private sector. According to her, such partnerships would result in the private sector receiving incentives for investments geared towards job creation.
“My comrades and fellow Jamaicans, at the centre of our plan is consultation, partnerships and dialogue as our Progressive Agenda states. We will consult, not insult, dialogue not monologue, engage not enrage. This is a fundamental difference between a People’s National Party Government and this particular Government that is now in office,” the party leader said.
While acknowledging that some of the current hardships are due to the global recession, the PNP president blamed much of the fallout on “the ineptitude of the Golding administration”.
My fellow Jamaicans, unemployment since 2007 was at 9.6 per cent, it is now 13 per cent, under this government. Poverty has risen sharply from 9.8 per cent when we left office to 20 per cent. Exports are down from US$2.8 billion in 2007 to US$1.3 billion last year,” she said.
Meanwhile, Simpson Miller said she had been listening to those criticising the PNP on its handling of the economy between 1992 and 2007. “In the 18 years, we had 15 years of economic growth, and in 2006 the economy grew by 3.5 per cent. The economy was growing as we reduced unemployment, the economy was growing as we were building highways, hotels, sports facilities and airports. The economy was growing as we built the transport sector and the alternative energy sector. The economy was growing as we were building schools, houses and as the business sector expanded,” she stated to thunderous applause from party supporters.
“Today my comrades, I call you to action. The PNP is progressive, the PNP is proud and now the PNP, more than ever, is ready for victory,” said a fired-up Simpson Miller to more frenzied applause.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Portia-targets-jobs_9747027#ixzz2c8ZnvKBq
Interesting post, thanks for that link and insight into what was being planned and what has become the reality
Jay, the pnp consists of group of radicals who do not understand the rudiments of the economy. I have articulated a number of viable policy options for growth, the pnp has not
My God!!!! I just remember reading this gibberish in 2011 and back then I knew it was a lot of hogwash.
Firstly, where was the money to come from to undertaken this massive employment program.
Secondly, how can this viewed as creating wealth when you are taking taxpayers’ money to put into a venture with no return to gain from it.
The government is drowning from its own ineptitude and things will only get worse from here. Thousands of students have left high schools and colleges since this last survey and there are not enough jobs for them. So we can expect the unemployment figure to reach 20% by the end of the year.