Youth Vision pickets Linden Enterprise Network

Mar 23, 2016 News

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The youth group, Linden Youth Vision, picketed the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN) Building on Monday morning after the group was locked out. LEN claimed no rent was paid since May 2015.

According to Chief Executive Officer of the youth group, Dexter Copeland, he started the NGO three years ago to assist the youths in Linden—- especially school drop outs, and CXC and Cape students.
He said that the rent was paid then by the former Public Service Ministry.
Copeland noted, “Since the change of Government in May 2015, I was asked to pay the rent. I was written to and I replied to the present acting CEO, Ms. Gasper that I have an NGO and that I am not making money so I cannot pay rent.
“I am assisting young people. I even asked her that maybe we can collaborate; let us be partners but she told me LEN is a business centre and they got to get money.”
Copeland also noted that he wrote letters to various stakeholders, even to the Regional Chairman for assistance, with the hope that someone will speak on their behalf to the management of LEN, but to no avail.
He claims that young people do a six-month course in air-conditioning and electrical installation, both theory and practical
Many are gainfully employed after completing the course.
“Students come in the Youth Vision office and do their SBA’s, print and use the facility, for free. I am not making money, how can I pay a rent?
“They are even being given lessons free by qualified teachers. These teachers do this voluntarily.” According to Copeland, they went into the fields last Friday to do practicals and when they returned a padlock was placed on the door, thus barring them from entering the building.
He also claims that the students’ bags and other belongings are locked in the room. Cameras, computers, printers and other equipment are reportedly locked in the room.
Copeland threatened to picket every day until they are allowed access to the room to continue operations or are given alternate space.
Chairman of Linden Youth Vision, Denton Osborne, said a deal was brokered with the former administration to utilize space in the building.
“But after LEN became strapped for cash and was were crying that staff were not being paid and so on, we brokered a deal with the former administration under the then Minister of the Public Service Ministry who agreed to pay the rent and the tenancy agreement was signed.
“Since this new government come into office they are asking for rent. The former CEO of LEN, Minister of Housing Valerie Patterson, Members of Parliament and other dignitaries attended graduation exercises for students.
“Even if they say let us pay half and the government pay half we will agree.”
One concerned parent who said her daughter is a part of the group is very upset with the way things have turned out. Sherry Fyffe said that her daughter has eight CXC subjects and cannot get a job.
“My daughter went there for the time being to learn a skill because she cannot get a job. What they want the young people to do? Thief? They not doing anything for the youths so they should be glad somebody doing something.”
Another said that it is very absurd because if the youths become criminals they will be made so. She claims that she believes it is a political move.
“It is a political move because Copeland run against them in the local government elections and win a seat.”
The students claim that they are very upset that they cannot enter the room because they see the programme as beneficial to young people. They are asking the authorities to allow them to use the space in the building because it is convenient.
They have to have a building to do the theoretical part of their course.
Member of Parliament, Jermaine Figueira, who was present told Kaieteur News, “It is unfortunate that there is an actual protest in front of Linden Enterprise Network an institution that recently opened for the businesses community to have space.”
Figueira noted that he was informed that the Youth Vision has not satisfied the financial agreement for 2015 and 2016 and it is a business.
He claimed that LEN is a Business incubator and if the young people want space there are other spaces available elsewhere that they can access to continue their programme.
“They have a number of community centres around Linden to which they could have access. They have a number of schools that dismiss after two p.m; they could have access to those buildings.
“I believe the difficulty is that right now I don’t believe that the space the group needs has to be central. Once a space is provided where the youths can have access to that facility then I don’t believe there is need for a problem.
“We must be cognizant of the fact that Linden Enterprise Network is a business incubator and a business must satisfy the financial arrangement of the business. The organization has failed to pay since 2015 but spaces are available in different parts of Linden and young people can have access to those spaces.”
Figueira said that the government is concerned about young people and will make all the necessary representation in order for them to be involved and to have access to spaces ‘but it don’t have to be in this particular location.’
Chairman of LEN’s Board, Klensil Grenville, said that while the Youth Vision is a good initiative, he is peeved that the situation is getting ‘public attraction’.
Grenville said, “I think it is unfair for people to demand this and to demand that without coming to the facts of the matter of the whole situation.”

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