Thousands of youth engaged under CSO programme

One of the biggest programmes under the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs’ budget remained the Community Service Officers (CSOs) programme which has engaged some 2,759 youths for 2024.

The youths are between the ages of 16 and 35 years old, and about 10 to 15 are selected from one village.

“The investment is $1.3 billion in young people. It is not only about reimbursing them for their engagement and contribution to community development… It’s an investment in Amerindian human capital,” Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai said at a press conference on Wednesday.

The government, through the ministry, has been investing billions of dollars in developing indigenous communities across the country.

According to a Department of Public Information (DPI) report, over the last four years, $4.2 billion have been channeled into the CSO programme.

The training under the CSO programme spans various fields, including tourism and hospitality, which has benefitted 62 CSOs from 2020 to the present.

In garment construction, 319 CSOs have been trained, while 331 individuals acquired skills in small engine repair.

Additionally, 255 CSOs were trained in tractor driving and maintenance, and 160 gained expertise in solar installation. Another 151 participants are now equipped with Information and Communication Technology (ICT) knowledge.

“Presently, we have 2,737 CSOs on the programme countrywide. This gives young people in all the regions an opportunity to earn a stipend while they build their capacity,” Permanent Secretary Ryan Toolsiram had said last December.

The investment also facilitated an increase in stipends from $30,000 a month to $40,000.

“This significant investment in Indigenous youth development was made possible by the reimplementation of the CSO programme, which the PPP/C government reinstated upon returning to office in 2020. The programme was discontinued by the previous administration in 2015, leading to job losses across Amerindian communities,” DPI reported.