THE GOVERNMENT OF SAINT LUCIA PLANS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF INTERNS EMPLOYED TO 200 NEXT SUMMER.

Saint Lucian students who were part of the government’s Summer Employment Programme are hailing it a huge success.

Over 100 fifth form students from various secondary schools, and first year students from the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College were employed at various government departments in August, for three weeks.

The employment programme aims to provide students with practical work experience, while defraying the costs of their school supplies. Nathan Etienne and Rochelle Vitalis spoke to the invaluable work experience gained.

“It was a fun experience,” Nathan said. “I worked at the front desk which was mostly data processing, name searches and retrieving files. It was a bit difficult to understand the system at first because I wasn’t familiar with it, but by the third day I had gotten the hang of it.”

“I was transferred to the Welfare Unit where I dealt with customers, and helped with financial aid and disability forms. Sometimes it was a bit draining because you deal with many people with different backgrounds, but at the end of the day I felt fulfilled because I was able to help other people,” Rochelle said. “It was a rewarding experience.”

For Desian Clement the experience helped inform career choices and improve self-discipline.

“I was able to hone my interpersonal skills and it opened me up to the varied career paths and fields of study that I may be interested in,” she said.

Due to its resounding success the government plans to continue with the Summer Employment Programme next year—this time doubling the number of interns to 200. The students were all paid a stipend from a financial allocation secured by the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Hon. Phillip J. Pierre.