Dear Editor,
Stabroek News of March 05th reported as follows on page 10 … ‘around 11,000 persons have since benefitted from government scholarships through the ‘GOAL programme.’
This followed the promises of 50,000 jobs. In neither case was mention made of any location or region benefitting of such development. With respect to ‘GOAL’ there have been several previous pronouncements by Ministers, interestingly without any specificities about the following:
A) The respective programmes/areas where there have been successes.
B) The specific certifications in those subject areas.
C) The regions or districts from which the graduates came.
D) How many have since been employed and the government agencies involved.
E) How many are known to have entered into private practice.
Bear in mind that ‘GOAL’ programmes ranged over periods of: four months, six months, one year, two years – offered by a wide range of overseas universities.
It is certainly time for Government to declare to citizens across the country, including anxious employers who advertise so many vacancies daily, what or who are the potential candidates available.
It is also time for Government to assure friends and families that the investment in GOAL has been truly rewarding. Indeed, the news would encourage others who are anxious to qualify for career employment.
This is all about human development – more than of political promises!
The silence is eloquently deafening.
Yours faithfully,
E. B. John
