Dominica: The National Employment Program (NEP) continues to make a positive impact across the nation. The program was conceptualised by the Prime Minister Dr. Roosevelt Skerrit in 2013.
Originally the proposal decided to employee 400 interns but ended providing jobs to 3000 individuals nationwide under On-The-Job Training and Mentorship. NEP majorly focuses on community beautification as seen in Portsmouth, where teams are enhancing the environment ahead of the World Creole Music Festival.
Longtime supervisor Michael Samuel praises NEP for growing skills and supporting the community. He said that the program has broadened the scope for all and has impacted many livelihoods.
Samuel said that in 11 years he got to know many people from different regions whose livelihood is supported by the National Employment Program. This also helped in improving socio-economic conditions of the people.
Furthermore, NEP has gone far beyond just providing employment. The Community Employment Assistant for Portsmouth – Ashworth Llyod said that this program gives him a very deeper sense of environmental consciousness.
Initially, the idea was to promote tourism sector in Dominica with this, considering the whole cleanliness, beautification and cleaning the stuff. This concept has motivated the people and inspired them to take their job seriously from the beginning.
For some participants, the program has also created opportunities for entrepreneurship. Elroy Stoute has established his own business ‘Easy Clean Services’ and proved himself as both skilled and industrious.
Also, for parents like Cathy JNO Hope, employment under the NEP means being able to provide finances for their children’s education. Being associated with the program for eight years, she has seen firsthand differences, that this program has made in the lives of her colleagues.
Currently, NEP encompasses a range of programs under the On-the-job Training and Mentorship. With this they are still providing jobs to the needy and are making other major improvements that needed to bring in this program.