DAY in, day out the same song is sung all across the country. That song is “No jobs’. The government of Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony has found itself in a spot of bother as a result of the criticisms levelled had at it, fairly or unfairly, about the lack of jobs in the country.
But is it jobs that are lacking in the country or is it employment that is lacking? Are the two things one and the same?
And can some of us who cannot find a job find employment? Could it be that I’m simply lacking common sense by trying to sound intelligent, but really and truly coming across as an idiot because I cannot differentiate whether finding a job or finding employment are one and the same?
Whatever the case, the Saint Lucia – ROC Taiwan Partnership Trade Exhibition held at this weekend was an eye-opener of the many things job hunting Saint Lucians can do to be employed.
From the making of chocolate and cocoa sticks, with which cocoa tea is made, to the making of wine which comes from a palm that brooms are made out of – the trade show made it clear that if jobs cannot be found then the job hunters could definitely find themselves employed in doing something that could give them a dollar or two.
Let’s forget the items that require machinery to produce. I saw at the trade show items that could be produced in a kitchen that has a stove top, utensils, a sink and a refrigerator. Most people who sing the ‘No Job’ song come from a home with a kitchen containing those items.
At the trade exhibition, I saw tamarind balls so well packaged with the words ‘ Made in Saint Lucia’ across the package that I had to take a closer look. The same could be said for coconut cakes or sugar cakes, the same delicacy I grew up calling” tablet.”
I also saw mango jams and jams made out of fruits grown on the island all well packaged. And the juices, some concentrated, again all well packaged with “Made in Saint Lucia” tags. All the items had the professional look that at first glance seem liked imported items.
Then there’s the hand-crafted jewellery, the clothing designs and the beverages, some alcoholic others not, with their labels naming the ingredients they’re made out of, etc., etc.
I think I came across a guy who said that he could never run out of wine. He makes wine out of whichever fruit that is in season.
Coming back to my senseless take on a lack of jobs or a lack of employment: Is it really a case of no jobs in Saint Lucia or is it really a case of no employment in Saint Lucia?
The trade exhibition, showed clearly that employment could be found if we really put out minds to it. The problem with several of those people who sing the song ‘No Jobs’ is that they do not want to exert much effort in finding employment. Too many of them believe that government must provide them with a job, never mind that government may have provided them with a market ready to purchase a particular product they could make if only they exert some effort.
Its’ the Good Book that says that by the sweat of thou brow thou shall eat bread. The singers of the ‘No Jobs’ song must understand that. Too many of them do not want to sweat, all they want is just the bread.
Useless article. What’s the point of young people havind diplomas, degrees and advanced certificates.
They can use their degrees or diplomas by applying some of the knowledge they learn in the classroom environment by apply it to their practical life. For example, a child grows up on a farm and sees his father work extended long hours watering his crops. That child goes to school and studies civil engineering. He returns and design an irrigation system that services the entire farm. You see the lessens he learned in school turned him into a thinker. Now he uses that ability to improve his family’s life quality. One of the many purposes of a good education.
A great article. It teaches self sufficiency. In today’s world the island rely too heavily on foreign imports when many of these products can be locally grown,supported, advertised and consumed by locals and tourists. A better liaison has to be established between the local government and the hotel industry where most of the agricultural products that they use should be locally supplied. It takes a little planning but that is why the politician should be elected. To serve his people. In order for him to proper serve he has to be a thinker by nature. This allows him to make connections between himself, the people he chooses to serve and making maximum use of what is or can become readily available at a reduced cost to the nation. The government can meet with the hotel industry to determine what produce they use, the level of frequency used and what time of the year the demand increases. They then supply that data to the agricultural department. That department uses the information in planning and also to educate the farmers on what to grow. Buying stations can be set up at various points on the island where farmers could sell their produce. These stations supply the hotel chains and locals with fresh produce rather than have it imported. The farmers now have a steady income, the hotel boasts of fresh foods, reduced emergency shortages,the government saves the currencies from foreign export which would occur for payment of the imported products. Bear in mind that when a tourist travels to an exotic country, they are seeking a life time changing experience. Why not give it to them. They make crave for familiar foods but they are also willing to experience something different. Some of these goods mentioned by the writer should be made readily available at all hotels. This allows the tourist a taste of our local offerings, it increases business for the farmers, create additional jobs, promotes creativity , reduces the outflow of that tourist dollar, boosting the economy, etc. The one country that has mastered that art is Jamaica. They may be struggling economically but their predecessors did a fantastic job of raising the national pride of their people. For instance, if a few Jamaicans live at the North Pole, they will somehow get their ackee, yams, kola drinks,snapper, delivered. A sense of resourcefulness and national pride. Politicians have to have that capacity of problem solving ability by producing viable solutions to life changes while increasing the people’s quality of life.