| General Secretary of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) Lincoln Lewis has reiterated his call for job creation for the nation’s youths.Lewis was at the time addressing a large gathering at the Critchlow Labour College at the May Day rally on Wednesday. In keeping with the theme for the rally ‘Job creation for youth empowerment’ Lewis stated that necessary systems must be put in place to ensure young people are given the institutional support and security to realize their dreams.“The African proverb ‘It takes a village to raise a child’ can mean something to this society, if the older folks reach out, not to dictate, but to ensure that the young are given the needed guidance and support” Lewis said.Lewis stressed that it is being said that youths of today lack focus and interest in what is happening around them. He said that there may be some truth to this,Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale, but one must ask what is responsible.“Could it be that we are talking to them and not talking with them? Could it be that our public posturing as older folks may have turned them off from hoping and believing in brighter tomorrows? Could it be that the institutional systems we have in place are not working for them? Could it be that they desire to do things a little differently?”Lewis said that while these questions must be asked in the search for answers, more importantly we must ask if leaders are taking time to be good stewards of this society and role models.“We were all once in their shoes and while my generation was taught obedience meant full compliance to the guidance and wishes of our elders, many will admit that we did not always comply and while in some instances of disobedience we got spankings, it also brought out our ingenuity, good and bad, and hopefully made us better citizens”.He called on those gathered to not lose focus on the foundational tenets upon which civilized societies are built and sustained.Lewis spoke of the need for youths to be entrusted with responsibilities and allowed to operate in environments where they can feel free to unleash their potential.“Youths also have a corresponding responsibility to ensure that in the pursuit of their dreams they seek understanding of their rights,Stitched Carolina Panthers Jerseys, incorporate the values of their mentors, and obey the laws of the land,” Lewis said.He added that far too many young people are passing through the school system not equipped with the requisite skills to compete in Guyana’s economy. He noted that for those who have made it to technical schools, university and colleges, when they leave, opportunities for work are becoming ever so limited forcing many to leave the country.“One international report has stated that 80 percent of our graduates leave our shores. This is not healthy. We are also confronting the issue of too many youths not having opportunities for a second chance and productive life if they may have not gotten it right the first time…their family could not afford the amenities to ensure they get an education.”Lewis also took the opportunity to address the issue of the Government subvention being withdrawn from the Critchlow Labour College.“In spite of this withdrawal, this College has over the years not only engaged in trade union training and education, but has equally played a major role in preparing persons for a life of work, as employee, employer and self-employer”Lewis added that the College once afforded youths courses at the CXC level,Jerseys NFL Cheap, small business and budgeting, professional development,Nike Shoes Discount Sale, courses for entry into the workforce, University of Guyana and teachers’ education.“As our policy makers, primarily our elected officials commonly say,Cheap Nike Sb China, ‘the youths are our future’,Cheap NFL Jerseys, but while this statement is constantly made, there is an absence of appropriate action to make the future something the youths are eager to look forward to and yearn to be involved in.” |
