WHERE ARE THE JOBS?

Mar 04, 2012 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

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During a recent address in Berbice, a government official was obviously at pains in finding examples of developmental projects in the county. The only ones of significance that could have been mentioned were the Berbice River Bridge and the Skeldon Sugar Factory.
The latter as we know is encountering major mechanical problems and these problems are increasing rather than reducing the TCTS (Total Cane per Ton of Sugar). Since this is the flagship of the new sugar industry, then this failure to operate efficiently has implications for the entire industry. Someone asked why import an elephant from India when you already have a while elephant in the making at Skeldon.
In the case of the Berbice River Bridge, this is a private bridge and the tolls are prohibitive. The bridge is making money for its owners and is not making any major impact on the lives of the people of Berbice.
So far, therefore, Berbicians are yet to experience the real benefits of these multi-million-dollar projects. Certainly when it comes to jobs, these projects have not created anywhere near the sort of employment that can make a serious impact on the lives of Berbicians.
There have been other developmental works undertaken. The main road has been resurfaced; a new hospital was constructed to replace the old one; and there has been a great deal of work done on schools and heath centres throughout the county. The biggest improvement, however, has been in the area of drainage and irrigation, but even in this area there have been complaints, and farmers do not see a bright future for their children in agriculture.
The government can boast about spending a great deal of money in Berbice, but the ultimate question is going to be how many jobs have been created.
Those who will today make their annual pilgrimage to Babu John should address their minds to this issue, because despite the hundreds of millions that have been spent, most of the young people of the region still have to venture to the city or ferry across the Corentyne River in search of jobs and opportunities.
Many young people are no longer interested in cutting cane. The work is too hard and the rewards too little. They are also not keen on planting rice. The economics of this is not to their liking. The cost of failed crops is crippling many farmers and making them indebted to the banks.
Berbice needs some new economic activities so as to create jobs. Within the agricultural sector there are plenty of opportunities, but often lands are not there for the small man or the young school-leaver, and those who are willing to make do with farming cash crops on small plots face thefts. So it is not easy for most within the region – even the businessmen, who find that disposable income is diminishing and people are not spending.
The key to helping the people of Berbice is through the creation of manufacturing jobs. One thousand new jobs should be the objective of the government over the next five years. If it does this, it would have made a difference.
These new jobs cannot be created in sugar, because any additional employment that takes place there would only have been replacing those workers who have walked off from the industry. These will therefore not be new jobs.
In the past there has been a lot of talk about the building of industrial estates in Berbice. It is time that that talk be put to the test. The government should not wait on investors to set up shop in Berbice. That strategy has not worked.
Most of those wanting to invest in Berbice are only willing to go into commercial activities or fishing, and this is not creating anywhere near the amount of jobs that should be created.
As such, the government has to try to do things a little differently to bring investments that would create sustainable jobs. Instead of waiting for investments, the government should identify some concerns that are capable of employing large numbers of persons, and then should invite expressions of interest for businesses to come on board.
What Berbice needs are about two textile factories. This alone should create about a thousand jobs for women. So the government should invite expressions of interest for investors willing to invest in two such factories.
A second type of investment that will create a lot of jobs, particularly for our young people, is call centres. There is one private facility already operating in Berbice, and it is employing a great many persons. Two more such facilities are needed, and the government should try to invite expressions of interest for this type of business in the ancient county.
In short, what the government should be doing is going to look for investments rather than waiting for the investors to come forward, since most of the investments that are coming forward are either displacing existing investments or are in the traditional areas.
What is needed is no longer an emphasis on investment, but on job- creation. The rural economy has to also be transformed, and this can only happen through the creation of more jobs.
As those leaders today sing the praises of Cheddi  Jagan, they should ask themselves how many new jobs they have created over the past nineteen years, or whether they have pushed the people of Berbice to search for greener pastures in Suriname and in the city.

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