Richard Lewis says the government has failed to train skilled labourers

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Richard Lewis Calls Out Government on Unemployment and Training Failures

Speaking at a United Progressive Party (UPP) rally in All Saints West, Richard Lewis expressed deep concerns over the continued struggles of Antiguans and Barbudans in finding employment, despite the government’s claims of a construction and economic boom. Lewis criticized the Gaston Browne administration for neglecting to address the ongoing unemployment crisis and failing to invest in training programs that could prepare the local workforce for available jobs.

“The government continues to boast about a construction boom, but where are the jobs for our people?” Lewis asked the crowd. He went on to question why so many local construction workers remain unemployed or underemployed, while the government pushes for the importation of foreign labor from outside the Caribbean.

“What is driving this obsession with bringing in foreign workers when our own people are left struggling?” he demanded, calling the practice “wicked and vindictive.” Lewis argued that the government should focus on upskilling and certifying Antiguans to ensure that they can fill available positions in the local job market.

He emphasized the importance of the National Training Agency (NTA), an initiative launched under the previous UPP administration, which aimed to equip local workers with the skills and certifications necessary for the workforce. However, he noted that the NTA has been severely underfunded, rendering it ineffective in helping citizens attain Caribbean Vocational Qualifications (CVQs).

“Why has your government failed to advance the National Training Agency?” Lewis challenged Prime Minister Browne, calling attention to the administration’s lack of investment in workforce development. “While other Caribbean nations are certifying their workers, our people are being marginalized and passed over for jobs.”

Lewis warned that without adequate funding and support for the NTA, Antiguans and Barbudans would continue to miss out on opportunities, particularly in the construction sector, where skilled labor is in high demand. He called for immediate action to revitalize the NTA and expand its programs to ensure that local workers are not sidelined by imported labor.

“The people of Antigua and Barbuda deserve better. It’s time for this government to do right by its people and invest in our future,” he concluded.

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17 COMMENTS

  1. September 12, 2024:

    “The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda has announced the establishment of a Heavy Duty Operator Academy, aimed at providing valuable skills training to young men and women in the country.

    This initiative is designed to create new employment opportunities and address the demand for skilled operators in various industries.

    Key details of the program include:

    Training Focus: The academy will teach students how to operate:

    Backhoes
    Excavators
    Bulldozers
    Cranes

  4. EXPERT MATHS TEACHERS FROM INDIA, EXPERT CONSTRUCTION WORKERS FROM INDIA….COMING SOON. A NATION THAT DOESN’T LEARNED FROM THEIR PAST IS BOUND TO REPEAT THE SAME MISTAKES OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THERE IS CURRENTLY AN EXPERT FROM INDIA WHO WAS GIVEN A THREE YEAR CONTRACT WITH THE EXPECTATION OF TRAINING A SUCCESSOR…GOING ON TWELVE YEARS NOW AND HE IS YET TO IDENTIFY A PERSON.
    I SAY TO YOU MY FELLOW ANTIGUANS
    BEWARE OF FOREIGN CONSULTANTS OFFERING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WHEN IN FACT THEY ARE SEEKING A PERMANENT JOB AND A GREEN PASSPORT

  5. Once again, the Most Honourable Richard Lewis has hit the nail firmly on head with his eloquent and elegant observations.

    He’s recognised that Browne’s soul focus has been on the hospitality sector in catering for tourists, to the detriment to the indigenous population. Sensible Antiguans have been screaming from the rooftops from time for him to invest and train in other very important sectors.

    Sadly, I now do not blindly employ just anyone anymore, because the skillset just doesn’t seem to be here in the country at present. So sad!

    “Word of mouth” seems to get work done correctly.

    As I’ve said before, if Browne had the same focus on training and retaining other sector workers, Antigua would be in a much healthier state, instead of patch-up, patch-up with an unskilled work force. So sad!

    HOW DID ANTIGUA END UP WITH BROWNE?

  6. Government failed? What nonsense is this. Every stupid thing is blame government.
    When do we as individuals take responsibility for our own actions?
    Let’s be fair. Young people nowadays don’t want no “sun” work. They want to be in office. It’s a lot of the ladies now taking on the mantle.
    Most of the young men I’ve seen, as early as I’m leaving my home to go to work, they on the corner with a Guiness, Beet. Some kind a alcoholic drink and smoking and just waiting for you to leave so they can go break your house.
    Did government tell them to do that?
    Get ya’ll shit together and stop chatting nonsense. People need to be proactive for themselves and stop passing the buck because it’s convenient to do!
    Tired a de blame game. Government is not ALWAYS responsible!
    This is my opinion and it’s not political. Be RESPONSIBLE!
    ARISE with a WILL and DESIRE to want to do better for one’s self!

  7. There are institutions in Antigua that offer training in areas of construction. I don’t think it’s an issue of the training but the cost of training. You still have to pay for the training, so juggling a fulltime job to pay for your training and other expenses can be challenging. So probably subsidized cost for training and priority placement into jobs along with reasonable salaries could be the overall solution. The major factor that encourages importation of labor is the cost of said impoted labor. It’s generally cheaper. So……..

  8. Nah Richard, not this time. If this is the case, then your UPP which is also a part of the government, as the Opposition and not but little over a decade ago, the same UPP was the Ruling Arm of the government; again #FAILURE lies with both the parties in terms of the preparation of “skilled labour.”
    However, NO GOVERNMENT, NO POLITICIAN, NO POLITICAL PARTY can teach anyone AMBITION, much less a #trade, by utilising and practicing one’s skills.

    #PRACTISE_still_makes_PERFECT!

    #A_TOOL_IN_HAND is still the extension, of one’s thought process, to accomplish the task(s), at hand!

    #STOP_SCAPEGOATING!
    #DO_WORK!

    Ras Smood aka Jumbee_Picknee
    De’ole Dutty Peg🦉Garrat_Bastard

    Vere C. Edwards

    • …sometimes politicians have to say wht ppl want to hear tho….there is no such thing as a truthful politician…they might mean to lie but they have to at times …😅😅

  10. Thanks for ADDING so much to this serious debate @ Well Well Well – I’ve learned so, I thank you 🤣

  12. JCFJW I share the same sentiments as you. That guy is very ingenius. His party was in power not so long ago, where are the skilled workers they train. The water situation was in a mess , they did nothing about it. That is why the PM had to make s promise that he’ll sort the water woes in short time . All he’s doing is to blame the government for every mishap. I wonder if he is blaming the government for his defeat at the UPP leadership convention. Joker.

  13. And you Richard Lewis FAILED TO WIN THE LEADERSHIP CONVENTION!!!

    You badminded libba BOYCOTT PRINGLE SWEARING IN CEREMONY because you were so POMPOUS, ARROGANT, SELF-SEEKING & NARCISSISTIC thinking it should be you as Leader of Opposition

  14. Government? Where is the ambitions of each free citizen of Antigua to do better in life? I own a small Construction company..And almost every single worker that i offer a job they refuse it because “They don’t want to work under the sun”..They go one week and after get paid they leave. I paid 150 day from 8 to 4..But those guys don’t wanna do it..Because when they have to move some steel or FormPly they are complaining a lot..They don’t wanna learn by the side of old carpenter…They refuse to learn and think they deserve same salary of experience carpenter..Is a hard trail and they don’t have tte ambition to take it and become and skilled carpenter also and get good pay…One week and give up..”Job no easy man”..Of course isn’t easy..Nobody said is easy, but can put money in your pocket at the end of the week. Ohh is better to be complaining a lot..But not doing anything to shape their life.

  15. Really Richard Lewis? Thus is the best you could come up with? Blame government for these LAZY, ENTITLED DONT WANT TO WORK IN HOT SUN YOUNG PEOPLE!!! Seriously!!! These young people don’t want no hard work to do. They don’t want to evaluate themselves. As a business owner I had more than my fair share of this younger generation who only wants to be INFLUENCERS AND TIK TOK CONTENT CREATORS!!!! Come better than that Richard Lewis!!!

  16. I wonder what do the art teachers do in class in Antigua.
    Antiguans will never be clever with hands as long as the art teachers let the students
    do the homework at home with their parents.

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