As the unemployment rate in Linden climbs, the Region Ten RDC said it is concerned that contractors are bringing both skilled and unskilled workers into the town to work on projects they have been awarded in the area.
The Regional Democratic Council (RDC) said this is being done despite the fact that the same workforce exists in the mining town. It believes that if the townspeople are hired there would be a drastic cut in the number of unemployed people in the area.
The RDC said it brought the issue to the attention of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) several months ago but it is still awaiting a response.
At a PNCR press conference yesterday, Region Ten Chairman Mortimer Mingo said several agencies had been awarded projects in the town. He recalled one case where a contractor brought workers from outside the region to work after telling both skilled and unskilled workers from the town, who went to him seeking employment, that no jobs were available. Mingo told the media that this caused an outcry and the contractor eventually hired persons at the labourer level but not the skilled workers.
Asked if the matter was taken up with the ERC, Mingo replied in the affirmative. He said late last year when the Commission was hosting its countrywide consultations, the Region discussed issues such as unemployment, the unfair award of contracts, the bringing of skilled and unskilled workers to the town with the officers. He said to date he has not gotten a response from the ERC on the discussions.
Asked about the unemployment rate and its effect on the crime rate, Mingo told the media that he didn’t have those statistics at hand. He admitted though that there are incidents of crime in the region but said that the town does not experience serious crimes like those that occur in other parts of the country. However, he said drug abuse is rampant in the town and ten out of 15 court cases are for drug offences.
Mingo told the media that residents of the mining town are experiencing a lot of hardships and “If you continue to deprive people of employment you are creating the conditions for protest.” He is adamant that in order to help reduce the unemployment rate there needs to be more ‘inward’ investment in areas such as manufacturing and forestry. He said too that the persistence needed to attract investors to the town is lacking.
Reading from a prepared speech, Mingo said “the issue of employment and housing are very much on the front burner at Linden and not a day passes, that my office is not besieged by residents who are seeking to be gainfully employed for a decent wage.” He said due to this the PNCR is calling for action to be taken to create jobs for the people of Region Ten and a prime area of focus is the Linden Economic Advancement Programme (LEAP) though that programme is currently winding down. Mingo said the RDC is deeply concerned about the lack of delivery in one of the most important components of the seven-year programme – inward investment, which tackles directly job creation and the availability of employment opportunities.
With LEAP’s expected closure, Mingo said the RDC will be exerting pressure to ensure that there is continuity for the programmes. This includes the component which focuses on areas of infrastructure directly related to the encouragement and facilitation of economic activities as well as institutional strengthening of the local government bodies and other community-based entities.
Mingo said the RDC will also be focusing on the need for continuity in the services and support offered through the Linden Economic Advancement Fund (LEAF), the financial component of LEAP. In addition to pushing for LEAF to continue to support small businesses, Mingo said the RDC will also be working closely with the Linden Municipality, the Linden Chamber of Industry, Commerce and Development, the Linden Technical Institute and other stakeholders to address common concerns.
He said the introduction of the 16% VAT is an additional burden on the people as it has contributed to the increased cost of living and a decrease in disposable income.
Mingo told the media that the residents are calling for a reduction in the VAT rate and are demanding that the RDC be allowed to implement planned and structured developmental initiatives.
