Friday October 17^th, 2008: Former Minister for Youth Development Mrs. Emmalin Pierre calls on the new Government to continue the political will for youth empowerment, which existed under the New National Party’s administration.

The former Minister said she hopes that the new  government will increase the level of investment made in the young people of Grenada.

Referring to the Government’s intention to change the Imani Programme to the Heart Programme, she said it is her hope that none of the trainees in the Imani Programme will be sent home but that their stay in the programme will be extended so they can acquire additional skills.

Mrs. Pierre said this was a new initiative started by the past administration where persons were given an extension and an incentive allowance of $100.00 once they were meeting the basic requirements of the programme.

She also hopes that all the components of the Imani Programme specifically the academic programme, the community development and personal development programmes will be featured in the Heart programme.

Mrs. Pierre noted that the NDC while in opposition was very critical of the Imani Programme and said that the stipend of $700.00 paid to the Imani trainees was not acceptable and promised during their campaign that it will be increased to $1000.00 per month.  The former Minister said it is her hope that this promise will be kept by the new administration, since many young people are being affected by the rising cost of living.

Speaking about the Imani programme, Mrs. Pierre described it as an excellent programme which like all other programmes has room for improvement.  The former Minister reiterated that she has no problem with the Jamaica based heart trust programme, a programme which she herself has done extensive research into, but she sees the GTEP and the Imani Programme combined achieving the same objective and more.