Yesterday during my budget presentation I outlined the establishment of the Youth Environmental Corps. This programme was devised to assist in the Government's war on unemployment. This programme will provide apprenticeship and training for young Bahamians in the developing green and blue economies in The Bahamas.

The programme is envisaged to cater to hundreds of Bahamian workers between the ages of seventeen and forty (17-40), over the next five years. It is envisaged that 1,200 jobs will be created over the next four years. The Youth Environmental Corp., will work with the Bahamas National Trust, the Bahamas Public Parks and Public Beaches Authority and the Forestry Unit of my ministry.

The Bahamas National Trust has a significant financial gap and is unable to pay for the human resources needed to manage our marine protected areas and national parks. The Youth Environmental Corp. will help to reduce the economic gap and enhance our ability to protect and manage these resources. The Forestry Unit is expected to receive 200 persons over the next five years.

The Bahamas Public Parks & public beaches authority is expected to engage 100-300 persons as we begin orientation and training for the wardens and staff required to begin work on the proposed lake Killarney national park and the National Hero’s Garden, which will reside in the Botanical Gardens. The lake Killarney National Park will be developed over a five year period and will provide over 19.5 miles of walking trails and boardwalks. It will provide facilities for bird watching, kayaking, snorkeling and relaxation. During the development phases, hundreds of green and blue jobs will be created.

The Youth Environmental Corp., is a work programme for young adults to learn valuable job skills in construction, painting, landscape, maintenance, forestry and park warden services. Some of the projects they will be involved with include maintaining trails, constructing pathways, planting trees and shrubs, propogations, replanting mangroves, diving and coral restoration, learning and labeling protected trees, basic forest management skills, installing irrigation systems, building and repairing fencing, park benches and gazebos.

I look forward to the young people of the country taking advantage of this opportunity.

By Kenred Dorsett