THE EDITOR, Sir:
I write this letter to bring to the attention of your readers the difference between the fictional promises of a Government and the factual experiences of a young unemployed Jamaican woman.
Minister Phillip Paulwell to whom I listened on Thursday, November 15, on the Breakfast Club, prompted me to write this letter. During the interview the Minister attempted to address the issue of unemployment, and may I, with respect, suggest he did not do a very good job.
During the earlier part of the show, there were three unemployed women being interviewed - one a bartender, the second a University of the West Indies (U.W.I.) graduate, and the third a former sales manager. I can empathise with all three of them, but, specifically, wish to address the concerns of the many recently graduated and unemployed UWI students.
My story
My story is simply this...
Four and a half years ago, I was employed to a major corporation in a good position. Management recognized my efforts and I was awarded with rapid promotions.
But I was not going to get past a certain level without a university degree, so, after due consideration, I decided to enter UWI to enhance my skills.
I very much at the time believed in the Jamaican proverb "If yu want good, yu nose haffi run."
So I resigned and prepared myself for the difficulties I would endure as I moved from the status of an employed person to that of a student without income. I studied and worked hard for three years and succeeded in obtaining a B.Sc. degree.
Thus armed with my new training and knowledge I re-entered the job market and proceeded to write one job application after another.
Answer some companies did, but the majority did not and those that did, the consistent message was clear....Sorry, no vacancies.
But with current bills to pay and my old school debts I could not afford to wait on the big offer that might come. I therefore took part-time jobs, some of them for no more than a few months at a time.
Even so I have been more fortunate than a lot of my fellow graduates who have had no employment since leaving university. There are a few, however, who were handed excellent jobs in Government agencies - their qualifications being no more than their "connections".
Relegated to becoming a part-time worker I was therefore very focused on what the Minister had to say.
He clearly does not understand the unemployment predicament we young people face. He should have listened to and learned from the voices which, according to reports in the media, sounded the alarm on behalf of the young unemployed.
These included the valedictorian at the recent UWI graduation ceremony, who during her speech questioned the ability of the present Government to create the climate required so as to create opportunities for UWI graduates.
I was, therefore, most surprised at the reaction of Minister Paulwell to the graduation speech. I suggest he could have with humility, accepted the criticisms.
Instead of which, he sounded arrogant and sought to question the authenticity of the valedictorian's speech.
Suggesting instead, rather than finding a job, we should launch our new enterprises with money borrowed from his Government.
Work experience
The words gushing from his mouth, promoting the concept that graduates (especially those who pursued Management Studies) should be looking to start their own businesses, with the millions of dollars made available to young entrepreneurs through Government rather than look for work.
Well Mr. Minister, I did not pursue the Management Studies programme, but my training, experience and good common sense tells me that even if I had succeeded in borrowing money from the Government, there are many other items that I would need to prevent me from becoming another casualty, adding to the "new and failed business" statistics.
I, Sir, would prefer to gain more work experience, accumulate some capital and then look to starting my own business one day.
I am, etc.,
CHRISTINE JOHNSON
Stony Hill
St. Andrew
