96 SAINT VINCENT, TUESDAY, 10 APRFL, 1951.-(No. 18). No. 163. (including St. Vincent) being recruited EMPLOYMENT SITUATION. for employment under contract for speci- S fled periods. .Insofar as the Netherlands West Indies (Aruba and Curacao) are The Government of St. Vincent has for concerned, there is rio large scale demand .some time been concerned about the for British West Indian workers at the rising cost of living owing to the in- present time, and vacancies whenever :creased cost of imported articles due they occuL are likely to be filled from the largely to the stock piling: for rearma-. local population of the Netherlands West ment in both the United Kingdom and Indies. Government. is publishing else- the United States of Arierica. where:a statement regarding the actual 2. It is fully understood by the Gov- figures of workers recruited for employ- ernment that this rise in cost of living is* ment in the Netherlands West Indies dur- bearing hardly on every member of the ing the.years of 1942-1945 and the posi- community. In addition to thi~, the tion since that date. Government, in common with other 6. Enquiry was also made regarding West Indian Governments, is faced with employment prospects in Panama and the problem of bver-population. The Government was informed that there economy of the Colony isf- dependent was little reason to expect any notewor- mainly on Agriculture, and although ac- thy increase of the labour force in the tive steps are being taken to increase Canal Zone before the year 1970, and _production, the agricult'iral- industry should unsettled world conditions neces- cannot absorb the number or workers state any augmentation of the existing who are -seeking employment, and in fact. labour force, such Iabour as might be re-. is being severely hindered by the number quired could be supplied for some time to. of- workers who are charitably employed core from the ranks of the unemployed in that sphere. Other avenues :of em- in the Republic of Panama. .ployment, namely the Government Ser- 7. Quite recently, it was decided by' vice and commercial establishments,' are Government to raise the rates of workers, not in a position to employ a very large and this has been done not because of percentagee: of the' population. With a any pressure from without, but because view to remedying tlfe situation a sub- it is normally the practice to raise the' cbimiittee of the Labour Advisory B6ard .wages of- workers if the price of the main infconsultatiion with *the Heads of the' crops are increased. It is hoped that Public Works, Agriculture, Medical, Edu'- 'this will assist those persons within nor- cation, Piblic Relations' and Labour De-: mal employment to meet 'the present sit- partments, recommended the establish- uation, but:'it is realized that the main ment of certain industries from a comr- trouble of the agricultural or industrial mercial basis and *the enactment of leg- worker is that he is not given full em- islation for granting relief from payment ploynient during the week and he niay of Customs Duties and Income Tax in re- find himself with orly two or three days aspect of such industries for a limited pe- employment out of seven. There:;,are .riod. two ways of meeting- such a situation : . 3. 'The Government'have accepted in (a) Decreasing the cost of normal principle thesee rechnirmeidations and 'a foodstuffs to the community by Pion:ers Aid to industries'Bill has been subsidization. lJrepared -and- is ready for introduction (b) The creation of.employment. .into the Legislative Council'. Plans for Government in reviewing (a) considered the formation of a Development .Board: that. for one year a-sum of.not less than are also in progress. It is expected that $100,.000 would be required, and at the this-Board Will be constituted with ihem- end of tha. .time there :would. be:nothing bers not entirely from within-the Gov- to show for the.expenditure, ,and in any ernment Service and also possibly with case a policy of subsidies was not a good persons from other Colonies in the 'Ca- one.' )uriig the next, 0two or three ribbean Area if they will-agree to serve. months, therefore, the Govern nent 4. It should be noted, however, that hopes; in order to relieve :the situation. 4.to create -some employment -by fecomn- all these plans are in the main long term tmencingework on' the i'poy nstcti ecom- projects and do not therefore take into the nVigi Highway nd theascertaint ub- account the unfortunate state of unem- urban roads. It should, be fully inder- ployment which exists in 'St. Vincent at stood that these os ae uly ne the present time. stood that these works are merely in the At. ulr :i eet nature of relief to unemployed people at :. 0 e ntfully appreciates that the present time, and should not be tak- tie enb0loymient of vorlker- outside the en- as- a.change in GOvernnent's poli',, i'olon. E reahtl ssi7sts the social and eco- regardJng finance. It will inv 6lve the ex- Tionici i.ell-bein3 of the people, and in 1pedlltl.-ie of Government fundsobut it's the event of there being an appreciable fe!t that s;ch an expenditure, notwith- ctpAnsion in the dcmnand. of the United standing the difficult financial situation States armed foirce ad 'inltmistry, there of the Colony, will assist n res ring,)cn- is a possibility of agriculdli wo ikers fidence amongst the citizens of St. 1Vin- from the British West Indian Colonies cent.