The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

FORMER minister of state for finance, Zhivargo Laing, yestrday defended the former government's introduction of the 52-week job programme as an investment in Bahamians, amid accusations from the new government that spending on it had almost doubled from the budgeted $25 million to $48 million.

He accused the new Christie administration of simply seeking to "discredit" the former government with its criticism of the programme

Prime Minister Perry Christie, during his Budget communication yesterday, said: "We will eschew job programmes of the type introduced by the previous administration, which ballooned from a initial estimate of $25 million to some $48 million, all the while lacking any real focus on viable, long-term employment."

Mr Laing called the statement "political fodder", adding: "If they think it's a bad idea to spend that much money on Bahamians, then they can cancel the programme. If they don't think that much money should be spent, they can cut it off today. If they do not believe it is a good project, then they should send those people home. If they think it needs improvement then they can fix it. They are the Government, they have the power to do that."

Mr Laing said a large number of persons under the programme had landed permanent jobs.

"If I'm putting food in people's mouths, isn't that investing in Bahamians? Isn't that a good thing to spend public funds on?" he asked.

"We had budgeted in that fiscal year $25 million, and that's what we spent in that year. The reality is that people needed jobs. The PLP is on a trip to find excuses for not being able to deliver on the outlandish promises they made. They would like to discredit us. They can follow the money and they will see that it went to the Bahamian people."

The Job Readiness and Training Program was announced by then-prime minister Hubert Ingraham in the 2011-2012 Budget Communication. The programme was designed to prepare unemployed Bahamians for entry into the labour market after they receive 52 weeks of formal, on-the-job training and career coaching through structured seminars.

The Government had initially set aside $25 million for the programme to provide job training for 3,000 people.