800 jobs for Reg. 10 residents in three weeks – Jagdeo

The government has promised to create 8,000 temporary jobs countrywide to help cushion the impact of the rising cost of living and on Sunday, Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo announced that 800 of those jobs will be created in Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Berbice).

Residents of the region, some travelling from the far-flung and riverain communities such as Kwakwani, Malali and Muritaro, have gathered at the Watooka Guest House in Linden for a government outreach activity being led by the Vice President.

And in a passionate address talking up the government’s intention to transform the country and guarantee sustained development, the Vice President said short-term challenges are being addressed as well.

“Within the next three weeks, we’re going to employ another 800 people in this region so that they can get a job,” Dr. Jagdeo announced.

Last week, he promised residents living along the Essequibo Coast in Region Two (Pomeroon- Supenaam) that 800 temporary jobs would be created at several government agencies and facilities for that region alone.

He had noted that only one person per family can apply; this is part of short-term plans to help all families cope with the rising cost of living while the government works towards more long-term solutions.

On Sunday, the Vice President said that the application forms for these jobs in Region 10 will soon be made available.

Price hikes owed to challenges emanating from the COVID-19 pandemic and worsened by the ongoing Ukraine- Russia crisis, have increased people’s cost of living.

“… that is why we set aside an initiative in the last budget to hire this year, giving temporary employment to about 8,000 persons,” the Vice President said on Thursday night, during a virtual discussion with a State media operative.

The initiative he referenced is part of the $5 billion sum allocated in the 2022 National Budget to fund interventions to cushion and counter the impact of the price hikes.

The Vice President, however, noted that the government is still deciding on how to spend the money.