THE EDITOR, Sir:THE GLEANER'S editorial of the November 16, 2004, commented on plans by
government to study "the feasibility of expanding the existing National Youth Service (NYS) to include a component which will make enrolment of unemployed youth who are out of school mandatory." All Jamaicans should welcome such a study by government, as few of us will deny that many of our young people are ill-equipped to make a worthwhile contribution to the development either of themselves or Jamaica as a whole.
They lack morale and motivation and so show themselves to be indisciplined and unproductive, even when they obtain occasional employment as casual labourers. Worse yet is the fact that a disturbingly large number of youth often destroy themselves physically and mentally by turning to gun crimes, drug abuse and other wasteful avenues of escape.
DEPLORABLE
Such a situation is deplorable in any country, but it is even more so in Jamaica where there is a greater need for discipline, and with it increased production. It is my hope, therefore, that any revised NYS programme will stop this slide towards chaos and disaster. It is hoped that a revised programme will be geared toward a military-oriented service and the participants made to feel that they are a part of a valuable exercise.
Recruitment should be without exception for all youth. The thrust should be directed towards those between 18 and 25 who are unemployed. The period of service should be three years and the participants should be subject to military law and the relevant regulations for the control and direction of the National Youth Service programme.
Employed youth between 18 and 25 should be required to register as well and subscribe to military law (Defence Act) and all the relevant regulations for the same three-year period. They should be required to train in barracks for four weeks, attend at least eight weekends on camps in each year and spend at least one three-week period on a selected work project during each year.
COMPULSORY SAVINGS SCHEME
All participants should be required to participate in a compulsory savings scheme of at least 1/3 of pay. This would be held in commercial banks with interest accruing at normal rates. On completion of service, government should match this sum equally. This should go a long way towards putting the participants on a sound footing when they leave the programme. Training should include only those military aspects that are designed to instil patriotism, discipline, comradeship and productivity. Specialised training should be directed towards suiting the participants to the needs of the government's development policy.
Every effort should be made that at the end of the three years those involved in the programme are not left to drift aimlessly. There would, therefore, have to be serious efforts made to ensure that proper job opportunities are open to them in keeping with the skills and experience they would have acquired. The last six months should be devoted to phasing the youth back into civilian life by way of job orientation programmes with civilian enterprises. Guidance should also be provided to assist those who may wish to invest their savings and government grants to establish their own enterprises.
It is hoped that a revised NYS programme will soon be enacted and that it will be geared towards a military-oriented service and one that will organise, discipline and motivate the youth of Jamaica.
I am, etc.,
COLONEL ALLAN
DOUGLAS
Retired colonel of the JDF
